Ex. 15. Abstract the text in brief (7-8 sentences).

Ex. 16. Read and translate the text:

TEXT 7C

BELARUSIAN SEA PORT

Though Belarus has no direct access to the sea, the creation of the national fleet is vital and economically efficient for our cargo transportation. At first, it is being planned to provide the Belarusian fleet with two merchant vessels, either 25 tons of dead-weight tonnage each or 30 tons and 6 tons for the “river-and-sea” type instead. The second variant is more preferable, because (1) it’s the most optimum scheme according to the specificity of the existing Belarusian export; (2) we must consider the technical scope of shipment and destination ports of our trade partners (the Brazil, Malaysia, India, etc.), which are not designed for large-capacity vessels. So, ships with dead weight of 30 tons are optimal.

Another question is where the port of these vessels’ registration will be. Many countries are ready to render their facilities. Negotiations are carried on with the Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania and Russia.

As Belarus belongs to the Baltic region there are two most acceptable variants to be considered: Klaipeda or Kaliningrad. Both have certain advantages.

As for Klaipeda, one can observe the growing tendency of Belorusian cargo flows. According to the data of 2000 the annual turnover exceeded 3 million tons and in 2003 it was almost 5 million tons, which makes almost 25% of the total turnover of the port. In 2004-2005 Belarus enhanced the volume of cargo, transported via Klaipeda seaport to 6,7 m tons. (To the point: at the same time Russian cargo makes less and less part of the total amount. Russian cargo made almost half of the total turnover of the port in 1999 but in 2002 the volume of Russian cargo decreased by 10%.)

Representative offices of some Belarusian forwarders are working successfully in Klaipeda port as well as some Lithuanian companies are working in Belarus. The main export cargoes of the republic are oil products from Novolipetsk and Mozir refineries, which make almost half of the total quantity of export, mineral fertilizers from Soligorsk and steel products from metallurgic factory in Zlobin. Molasses and food products make the greater part of overseas import.

Though the share of Belarusian cargo permanently grows, their quantities are not big even if the most modern container and multi-modal transportation technologies are used. Lithuania is interested in attracting more road carriers to Lithuanian ferry lines. There are not so many timber products and ready-made products in the port.

In spite of the fact that Belarus is the member of CIS and has declared about the union with Russia, the Lithuanian side plans and forms its relationships with Belarus and Russia separately. The Klaipeda variant will surely help our republic to form modern marketing system and make better conditions for closer cooperation of businessmen and transport people of both our countries and consequently the whole Baltic region. Besides, geographically Klaipeda Seaport is the nearest to Belarus - only 415 kilometers from the border. And the fact that this port is a non-freezing one is of no less importance.

So, maybe Klaipeda will become the seaport of two states – Lithuania and Belarus.

Pic. 39. Probable sea-ports for Belarus

The other variant to be thought more preferable by many is Kaliningrad. It has traditionally been a city that is very close to Belarus. It is not just a neighbour that is only a stone’s throw away, as the saying goes. More than 100,000 Belarusians live there. They are the second-largest national group after the Russians. The Belarusians are actively involved in the region’s economic and social life and hold many key positions. The economic links of whole economic sectors of Belarus and the Kaliningrad Region have remained intact since Soviet times. Belarus supplies 75-80 percent of the timber for the paper and pulp plants of the Kaliningrad Region. In return, we get pulp, the basic raw material for our paper industry. We have also been and remain the key suppliers of materials for walls (bricks, cement, concrete) for construction in the region. Furthermore, Belarusian contractors do a fair amount of the construction.

There is interaction between Belarus and the region also due to the magnetism of the Baltic Sea. In Belarus there have always been many people who wanted to link their life to that sea by serving in the merchant or fishing fleet. Moreover, it is vital to us that the Kaliningrad Region has a well-developed transportation infrastructure and access to the Baltic Sea so that we can quickly and effectively export our goods. If it wasn’t necessary to get Polish and Lithuanian visas when using ground transport, then we would have no problems at all with citizens traveling within the Union state.

Both Belarus and Russia benefit from our presence in Kaliningrad, that’s why this presence will grow. The authorities of the city has already suggested to Belarus to build its own port in the town of Zelenogradsk, Kaliningrad region, on basis of the former naval harbour.

In conclusion it should be noted that there can be the third variant being supported by the Ministry for Transport of Belarus. It is the cooperation project (so-called “2K-project”) of both Klaipeda and Kaliningrad ports.

Ex. 17. Answer the questions:

1. What are the two variants planned to provide Belarusian merchant fleet with sea-going vessels? 2. What is the second important question of this plan and what may the probable solution be here? 3. What are the most acceptable variants of future Belarusian port? 4. What are the main export cargoes of the republic through Klaipeda port? 5. Enlist the possible advantages of the “Klaipeda variant”. 6. Prove that there exists close interaction between Belarus and Kaliningrad region. 7. Can we say that economic links between Belarus and Kaliningrad are histerically strong? Give your reasons. 8. Where can be the most probable position of the Belarusian sea-port? 9. Are there other variants of Belarusian sea-port considered? 10. Explain the origin of the term “2K-project”.

Ex. 18. Explain why:

a) the creation of the national fleet is vital and economically efficient for our cargo transportation;

b) the second variant of sea-going vessels’ provision is more preferable;

c) the cooperation with Belarus can become more preferable for Klaipeda than even with Russia;

d) the Belarusians are actively involved in the Kaliningrad region’s economic and social life and hold many key positions;

e) both Belarus and Russia will benefit from our presence in Kaliningrad;

f) the Kaliningrad authorities has suggested to Belarus to build its future port in the town of Zelenograd, Kaliningrad region.

Ex. 19. Develop the idea:

1) Though Belarus has no direct access to the sea, it is being planned to provide the Belarusian fleet with two merchant sea-going vessels;

2) Klaipeda may become the seaport of two states – Lithuania and Belarus;

3) The Kaliningrad variant is thought by many to be more preferable.