Give Russian equivalents of the following words and phrases.
2. Give Russian equivalents of the following words and phrases.
Strategic arms cuts; withdrawal from; hard-liners; to live up to one's promises; to preserve good ties; condolences; 1972 ABM Treaty; NATO membership; deployment.
3. Give English equivalents of the following words and phrases.
Сдержать обещания; договор по ПРО 1972 г.; соболезнования; сторонники жесткой линии (в политике); сокращение стратегических вооружений; размещение; членство в НАТО; сохранять добрые отношения; выход из.
4. Answer the questions on the article.
- Why has the disillusionment with Russia's friendship with the USA grown recently?
- What steps did Russia make to preserve good ties with the USA after the terrorist attacks of September 11?
- What concessions did the Russian president make to help the USA fight terrorism?
- What did Russia receive in return?
5. Questions for discussion.
- Do you think that Russia really has given up too much to Washington?
- Can you say that Washington has been really ungrateful? Why?
- Why do you think Russia has made so many concessions to the USA though it received little in return?
- What to your mind are the prospects for Russian-American relations?
III
1. Read the article and look up the underlined words and phrases in a dictionary.
At brief summit
Russian and American presidents on Friday jointly pledged their full support for the newly adopted United Nations resolution on Iraq and called on Baghdad «to comply fully and immediately» with its disarmament demands or «face serious consequences».
But the Russian president made clear in comments to reporters after the 90-minute meeting that he remains concerned that Washington is only waiting before launching a military attack on Iraq. He said, «We agree that we have to make sure that Iraq has no weapons of mass destruction in its possession». But, he added, «We do believe that we have to stay within the framework» of the UN resolution.
Russian officials say they have reached an understanding with the U.S. administration on Russia's economic interests in Iraq, including concerns about the price of oil as a result of an Iraqi oil boom should President Saddam Hussein be overthrown.
While denying that there has been a specific agreement, US officials say they are aware of Russian concerns and are taking them into account in planning for a post-Saddam Iraq. «We understand that Russia has got interests there, as do other countries», the US president told an independent Russian television station. «And of course those interests will be honored».
«Putin is a very pragmatic politician», said a spokesman of a research organization that has focused on US -Russian relations. «Instead of trying to stop things that are going to happen anyway, he tries to get the most he can, both for his country and for himself politically». At the top of Putin's list of economic concerns is the fear of collapsing oil prices once UN trade sanctions against Baghdad are removed and Western investment begins to pour into the neglected Iraqi oil sector.
While acknowledging that discussions have taken place with the Russians over the price of oil, US officials dismissed suggestions that the United States can influence the market very much. «Generally, we would like to see stability in the oil price», said a US official involved in Russia negotiations. «Sharp changes unsettle the markets».
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