Russia says NATO is its biggest threat

Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a new military doctrine that says NATO is one of Russia's biggest dangers. NATO (the North Atlantic Treaty Organization) is a defence treaty that started in 1949. It consists of North American and European countries who guarantee to act if any member state is threatened militarily. Tensions between Russia and NATO have existed since the end of WWII. The rival, Russian-led Warsaw Pact started in 1955 and led to the Cold War between the East and West intensifying. Strained relations have surfaced once again with former Russian ally Ukraine making fresh steps to join NATO. Russia accused NATO this week of turning Ukraine into a “frontline of confrontation”. The new doctrine has stated that for the first time, Russia would use conventional weapons “as part of strategic deterrent measures” if it sees its territory is under threat. A NATO spokeswoman said the organization was complying with international law over Ukraine and was not threatening Russia in any way. She said: “Should Ukraine decide to apply for NATO membership, NATO will assess its readiness to join the alliance in the same way as with any candidate. This is an issue between NATO and the individual countries aspiring to membership.” She added: “It is Russia's actions…in Ukraine which are breaking international law and undermining European security.”

 

Task 4. Mark the statements as True or False using the information from the text.

1. Russia's president signed a document stating the danger of NATO.

2. NATO started as an organization in 1994.

3. The rival to NATO used to be the Warsaw Pact.

4. Russia said NATO is using Ukraine as a basis for confrontation.

5. Russia said it will use conventional weapons as a deterrent.

6. NATO said it knew its actions were outside of international law.

7. NATO said it will treat Ukraine's membership application differently.

8. NATO said Russia's actions over Ukraine reinforced European security.

 

Task 5. Match the synonyms.

1. doctrine 2. dangers 3. guarantee 4. intensifying 5. confrontation 6. conventional 7. complying with 8. assets 9. issue 10. undermining

a) orthodox b) promise c) hostility d) evaluate e) set of beliefs f) weakening g) escalating h) matter i) abiding by j) threats

 

Task 6. Answer the following questions; discuss your answers with a partner.

1) Do you think any part of Russia is under threat from NATO?

2) Can the issues between Russia and NATO be resolved in court?

3) What are the good and bad things about NATO?

4) Why are Russia and NATO still seemingly on Cold War terms?

5) What three adjectives best describe this situation and why?

6) What do you think will happen over the next few years?

7) Is Russia breaking international law?

8) What questions would you like to ask Vladimir Putin?

 

Task 7. Compare the political systems of the UK, the USA and the Russian Federation using the information from the table. Speak about the responsibilities of the institutions in each country.

The UK	The USA	The Russian Federation
1. The Queen is the head of State. The Prime Minister is the leader of the Government and the leader of the party with the majority seats in the House of Commons.	1. The President is both the head of State and the government.	1. The President is both the head of State and the government.
2. Parliament is made up of two chambers: the House of Lords and the House of Commons.	2. The Congress is made up of two houses: the Senate and the House of Representatives.	2. The Federal Assembly consists of two chambers: the Council of Federation and the State Duma.
3. The House of Commons consists of 650 elected members.	3. The Senate has 100 elected members.	3. The Council of Federation consists of 178 representatives.
4. The House of Lords consists of over 1100 permanent non-elected members.	4. The House of Representatives has 435 members. The number of representatives from each state depends on its population.	4. The Duma consists of 450 deputies.

Task 8. Fill the gaps with the proper words.

The President of Russia The (1)__________ of the Russian state is the President of the Russian Federation who: · is the (2)__________ of the Constitution, the rights and freedoms of citizens, · takes measures to protect the (3)__________ of Russia, its independence and state integrity, · ensures coordinated functioning and (4)__________ of public authorities, · determines the main directions of (5)__________ and foreign policy of the state. The President is (6)__________ on the basis of universal, equal and direct suffrage by secret (7)__________. The same person can not hold the office of the President for more than two consecutive (8)__________. On the basis of amendments to the Constitution, which entered into force on December 31, 2008, starting with the 2012 (9)__________, the President is elected for a six-year term of office. The real situation differs significantly from that stated in the (10)__________. Russia is in fact a presidential unitary state in which there is no real (11)__________ of powers. The parliament plays a decorative function, courts are not independent. There is tight control over the political sphere, access of (12)__________ parties to elections and to the media is very limited.

Ballot Terms Opposition Head Sovereignty Elections Separation Interaction Constitution Guarantor Domestic Elected

Task 9. Check your knowledge of state structure of the Russian Federation.

1. The official name of Russia is _______________.

a) Russia

b) the Russian Federation

c) the Republic of the Russian Federation

 

2. The national Government of Russia consists of _______________.

a) the President and the Prime Minister

b) the President and the Council of Ministers

c) the President, the council of Ministers and the Federal Assembly

 

3. There are _______________ Houses in the Federal Assembly.

a) two

b) three

c) four

 

4. The lower House of the Federal Assembly is _______________.

a) the State Duma

b) the Council of Ministers

c) the Federal Council

 

5. The Head of the Republic of Russian Federation is _______________.

a) the President

b) the Prime Minister

c) the Speaker of the State Duma

 

6. The Duma consists of _______________ deputies.

a) 540

b) 450

c) 400

 

7. The Chairman in Russia is _______________.

a) elected

b) invited

c) appointed

 

8. In Russia _______________ can declare laws unconstitutional.

a) the President

b) the Supreme Court

c) Constitutional Court

 

9. _______________ elect the members of the State Duma.

a) the government

b) the people

c) the president

 

Task 10.Solve the word search puzzle.

ADOPT

APPROVAL

BALLOT

CONFIRMATION

CONVENE

DISTRICT

DRAFT

ELECTION

LEGISLATION

PERMANENT

PREROGATIVE

REJECT

RESIGNATION

SUPREME

 

 

J X O P M Z I K U N U X C U T Z X H U S

Y W J G Y P M A O C C C C K V C L B V N

N O I T A M R I F N O C I U R O E T N I

C B N G Z L T E D G U C F W M O G J P Q

K H D G H C U Q R F T J R J R D I I E V

L W J I E J U R N O I T A N G I S E R R

M Z G L S G D J L L G F V X I P L B S U

Y A E C G D S L C A C A Q C B Z A F W L

C Z J X D B A U X V B R T C I R T S I D

I R Q F F B G D P O F D V I P Q I X M R

V Z R E M U G W O R N E N E V N O C S O

S S J Q G P D E I P E R M A N E N T O U

Q U Z O M D S C S P T M Y T X G M Y N J

P M H W Y L Y V R A M H E M U X Q V X K

Y S Z G N C T P U N A I I Z M R I W O R

A E S E Q D W W I X B X S R L D F T L M

D H I R M X S Y M T T I D U D Z X H Q Y

Y N U V K A X C Z M F K S P H H C Q U Z

L O N R J G J S S Y A L P G O Z T U K K

Z U M C F L V L J R C R V H R Z X A T C

 

 

Unit 10