Prepare the summary of the text in 10-12 sentences. Use the active vocabulary from the Word Study section.

Word Study

1. Translate the following words and word combinations from the text from English into Russian:

Alliance; essential; to safeguard freedom and security; to share values and interests; to be based on …; the rule of law; to secure; to affect; to contribute to peace and stability; commitment to…; to rely upon; to be proclaimed; peaceful resolution of disputes; to coerce; to pose risks; to deter; decision-making process; to make appointments; ministerial level; to be assisted; to assign; indispensable.

2. Translate the following words and word combinations from the text from Russian into English:

Выполнять особую миссию; быть приверженным чему-либо; постоянный; основные принципы; начало; экстренные случаи; сохранять свободу и безопасность; на уровне министров; постоянный; установление демократических принципов; делать назначения; председатель; справедливый; подвергать риску; влиять на…; обеспечивать; сохранять суверенитет; сферы общих интересов; основной принцип; приверженность чему-либо; совместные консультации союзников; войска в состоянии боевой готовности; солидарность и единство; мирное разрешение конфликтов; иметь дело с основными угрозами безопасности.

3. Match the words from the first column to the words from the second one:

a. alliance 1. chair

b. essential 2. threaten

c. safeguard 3. protect, secure

d. affect 4. union

e. deal with problems 5. vital, very important

f. intimidate 6. influence

g. preside over 7. resolve

h. principal 8. main, major

i. bedrock 9. basic principles

4. Give definitions to the following words and word combinations:

1. alliance

2. bedrock

3. the rule of law

4. common commitment to something

5. cohesion

6. basic security challenges

7. indispensable

8. forum for consultations

9. fields of common concern

10. inter-governmental

11. sovereignty

12. consensus

13. operational forces

Use the lexical units from the exercise above in the sentences of your own.

6. Translate the following sentences from Russian into English using the lexical units from the previous exercises:

1. Основными способами разрешения конфликтов являются проведение мирных переговоров, участие посредников, а также отказ от применения силы.

2. Одним из основополагающих принципов Конституции любого демократического государства является верховенство закона.

3. Распространение оружия массового поражения, наркоторговля, глобальный терроризм представляют угрозу безопасности и стабильности во всем мире.

4. В особых случаях, при угрозе безопасности отдельного государства или всего мирового сообщества, Совет Безопасности ООН может собраться для экстренного заседания.

5. Многие европейские государства объединили свои усилия в деле сохранения мира и стабильности в регионе, решения наиболее актуальных проблем, а также соблюдения прав человека.

Talking Point

Discuss the following questions in groups. Share your ideas with the class:

1. Does NATO need any standing army?

2. Is NATO the right organization to assume the regional security responsibilities in Europe?

3. Are the peace-keeping missions of NATO effective? Give examples.

4. Can fears that NATO may potentially abuse its military might translate into tensions and insecurity in Europe?

Speaking

Speak on the topic “NATO: its role and tasks today”.

Find an article in the current press concerning the present day activities of NATO in different parts of the world. Prepare the analysis of the article.

Part 2

NATO: Security Challenges and Risks

Warm-up

Discuss the following question in groups. Share your ideas with the class;

What possible risks and challenges might pose a threat to the security of the Alliance?

Pronunciation

Watch the pronunciation of the following words and word combinations. If necessary consult a dictionary:

strategic environment

at the periphery

ethnic and religious rivalries

the abuse of human rights

adversaries

weaponry

sabotage

Reading

Read the text and compare the ideas from the text with your own ones:

Despite positive developments in the strategic environment and the fact that large-scale conventional aggression against the Alliance is highly unlikely, the possibility of such a threat emerging over the longer terms exists. The security of the Alliance remains subject to a wide variety of military and non-military risks which are multi-directional and often difficult to predict.

These risks include uncertainty and instability in and around the Euro-Atlantic area and the possibility of regional crises at the periphery of the Alliance, which could evolve rapidly. Some countries in and around the Euro-Atlantic area face serious economic, social and political difficulties. Ethnic and religious rivalries, territorial disputes, inadequate and failed efforts at reform, the abuse of human rights, and the dissolution of states can lead to local and even regional instability. The resulting tensions could lead to crises affecting Euro-Atlantic stability, to human suffering, and to armed conflicts. Such tensions could affect the security of the Alliance by spilling over into neighbouring states, including NATO countries, or in other ways, and could also affect the security of other countries.

The existence of powerful nuclear forces outside the Alliance also constitutes a significant factor which the Alliance has to take into account if security and stability in the Euro-Atlantic area are to be maintained.

The proliferation of NBC (Nuclear, Bacteriological and Chemical) weapons and their means of delivery remains a matter of serious concern. In spite of progress in strengthening international non-proliferation regimes, major challenges with respect to proliferation remain. The Alliance recognizes that proliferation can occur despite efforts to prevent it and can pose a direct military threat to the Allies’ populations, territory, and forces. Some states, including on NATO’s periphery and other regions, sell, acquire or try to acquire NBC weapons and delivery means. Commodities and technology that could be used to build these weapons of mass destruction and their delivery means are becoming more common, while detection and prevention of illicit trade in these materials and know-how continues to be difficult. Non-state actors have shown the potential to create and use some of these weapons.

The global spread of technology that can be of use in the production of weapons may result in the greater availability of sophisticated military capabilities, permitting adversaries to acquire highly capable offensive and defensive air, land and sea-borne systems, cruise missiles, and other advanced weaponry. In addition, state and non-state adversaries may try to exploit the Alliance’s growing reliance on information systems through information operations designed to disrupt such systems. They may attempt to use strategies of this kind to counter NATO’s superiority in traditional weaponry.

Alliance’s security interests can also be affected by other risks of a wider nature, including acts of terrorism, sabotage and organized crime, and by the disruption of the flow of vital resources. The uncontrolled movement of large numbers of people, particularly as a consequence of armed conflicts, can also pose problems of security and stability affecting the Alliance. Arrangements exist within the Alliance for consultation among the Allies under Article 4 of the Washington Treaty and, where appropriate, co-ordination and their efforts including their responses to risks of this kind.

Scanning

1. Answer the following questions:

1. What is highly unlikely in NATO’s security environment?

2. What non-military challenges does NATO face today?

3. What do you think is meant by “powerful nuclear forces outside NATO” that constitutes a significant factor which the Alliance has to take into account?

4. What is understood by the proliferation challenge?

2. Comment on the following statements:

1. Today the biggest threat to NATO is a large-scale conventional aggression against the Alliance.

2. The existence of powerful nuclear forces outside the Alliance should be taken into consideration if security and stability are to be maintained.

3. The proliferation of NBC weapons and their means of delivery remains a matter of serious concern.

4. Non-military challenges pose the most serious threat to NATO today.

Word Study

1. Translate the following words and word combinations from English into Russian:

Emerge; face serious economic, political and social difficulties; ethnic and religious rivalries; the dissolution of states; armed conflicts; spill over into…; proliferation of NBC weapons; NBC weapons and delivery means; illicit trade; adversaries; cruise missiles; advanced weaponry; disrupt; sabotage; pose problems.

2. Translate the following words and word combinations from Russian into English:

Широкомасштабная агрессия с применением обычного вооружения; этнические и религиозные столкновения; нарушение прав человека; территориальные споры; вооруженные конфликты; представлять военную угрозу; распространение оружия массового поражения; противозаконная торговля, высокоэффективные наступательные и оборонительные системы воздушного, наземного и морского базирования; современное наступательное и оборонительное вооружение; крылатые ракеты; организованная преступность; нарушать.

3. Translate the following sentences from the text from English into Russian:

1. The security of the Alliance remains subject to a wide variety of military and non-military risks which are multi-directional and often difficult to predict.

2. Ethnic and religious rivalries, territorial disputes, inadequate and failed efforts at reform, the abuse of human rights, and the dissolution of states can lead to local and even regional instability.

3. Commodities and technology that could be used to build these weapons of mass destruction and their delivery means are becoming more common, while detection and prevention of illicit trade in these materials and know-how continues to be difficult.

4. The global spread of technology that can be of use in the production of weapons may result in the greater availability of sophisticated military capabilities, permitting adversaries to acquire highly capable offensive and defensive air, land and sea-borne systems, cruise missiles, and other advanced weaponry.

5. Alliance’s security interests can also be affected by other risks of a wider nature, including acts of terrorism, sabotage and organized crime, and by the disruption of the flow of vital resources.

Speaking

1. Look at the NATO security challenges and risks again and make up a chart defining which of them are of vital and peripheral nature:

2. Speak about the major security challenges and risks NATO faces today using the table above and the active vocabulary from the Word Study section.

Part 3

NATO-Russia Relations

Warm-up

Answer the following questions. Share your ideas with the class:

1. How could the relations between NATO and Russia be characterized after World War II?

2. Why was it difficult for NATO and Russia to iron out differences?

3. When did it become possible for NATO and Russia to improve the bilateral relations?

Pronunciation

Watch the pronunciation of the following words and word combinations. If necessary consult a dictionary:

confrontation

strategic priorities

collapse

emphasize

breakthrough

emergencies

perpetrate

pillar

cornerstone

earthquake

Reading

Read the text and name the main spheres of cooperation between NATO and Russia:

Since the end of the Cold War NATO member countries have regarded a positive relationship and cooperation with Russia as a priority. Over the years, much progress has been made in transforming old antagonisms based on ideological, political and military confrontation into fruitful cooperation based on common interests and continuing dialogue.

The creation of the NATO-Russia Council (NRC) in May 2002 marked the beginning of a more pragmatic relationship focused on activities, such as fight against terrorism, defense reform, non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, military cooperation and training, civil emergency planning, theatre missile defense and preparing for possible peacekeeping operations.

Today, NATO member states and Russia meet regularly as equals in the NATO-Russia Council to consult on current security issues and to develop practical cooperation in a wide range of areas of common interests. Awhile differences remain on some issues which may take some time to resolve, the driving force behind the new spirit of cooperation is the realization that NATO member states and Russia share strategic priorities and face common challenges, such as combating terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.

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