A personal message from hrh the Princess

 

OF WALES

 

… The problem of drug abuse is an international one. It respects neither the Boundaries of countries nor the bounds of decency. It destroys individuals and communities.

 

There are two equally important elements in the fight against drugs.

One is the reduction of demand and the other is the reduction of supply.

It is the reduction of supply which is the aim of law enforcement agencies around the world. In common with their drugs Law enforcement colleagues in other countries, HM Customs and Excise is in the front line of the struggle. One of their principal aims is to encourage international co-operation by the provision of technical aid, equipment and training...

 

Diana¹, April 1992

 

XIII. Agree or disagree with the following statements. Give your reasons. Discuss your answers with your partner. Supply some additional information.

 

1. There is no co-operation in law enforcement between the UN, the CCC and Interpol.

 

 

¹ Diana (1961–1997) – Princess of Wales, original name Diana Frances Spencer.

 

2. The UN and Interpol have developed a repository of laws and regulations on illegal financial flows and the use of the banking system in Europe.

 

3. Existing UN tools need to be re-evaluated if the UN is to intensify its role in the battle against the drug barons.

4. UN efforts in drug control go back to 1846, when the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs was established to continue work begun by the League of Nations in setting international drug control policy and promoting co-operation between Governments in Africa.

 

5. Banks, knowingly or otherwise, help drug traffickers launder as much as $ 100 billion a year made from sales.

6. Shipping companies must be held responsible when contraband is discovered in their cargoes, even if they are unwillingly involved in smuggling schemes.

 

7. Confiscation of assets gained through illicit drug sales should be used to improve law enforcement.

8. Adequate pay and training are pre-requisites for a motivated and honest team of law enforcement officials.

9. No man is above the law, and no man is below it. (T. Roosevelt)

 

DO IT FOR FUN

 

I. Insert the right words. Choose from the list below.

 

A

 

biological conventional

 

binary chemical

 

(1) weapons such as nerve gas can cause almost instantaneous death.

(2) weapons, which consist of two chemical agents that are not highly toxic independently but become so in combination, are also lethal.

(3) weapons, based on microbial or other organisms or toxins, can cause slow, painful death to thousands if used in densely populated areas.

 

(4) weapons include «traditional» weapons used on land, sea and in the air.

 

B

 

luggage something currency alcohol

 

illegal

 

list goods cars food

 

products

 

At Sheremetyevo-II airport, on average, (1) is found in passengers'

(2) once every two days. In the first six months of 1996, Customs officers confiscated (3) worth $ 53 m. Topping the contraband (4) were (5). (6) were a distant second, followed by (7) and (8).

 

II. Explain the meaning of the following proverbs in English and translate it into Russian:

 

Money is the root of all evil.

 

Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind.

 

R. Kipling.

 

III. Find the following hidden words in the word search.

 

TRAFFICKING ENFORCEMENT

 

ABUSE ADDICTS

 

ILLICIT STRENGTHEN

 

VIOLENCE INTERDICT

 

ADOPT COUNTERMEASURES

 

 

 

IV. Fill in the gaps with a suitable word from the list.

 

Russian	military	red	true
old	green	outer	blue
vital	earliest	wonderful	mysterious
small	Byzantine	traditional	yellow

subdued	high	Russian	similar
holy	general	large	philosophical
symbolic	free	shining	healing
epic	musical	childlike	luminous
naive	tragic	dramatic	stately
bright	large	small	delicate
intricate	Russian	enamel-like	spiritual
decisive	attractive	narrative

 

RUSSIAN ICONS

 

In (1) Russia, icons (the word ikona in (2) means «(3) image») were

 

(4) to people's lives, occupying a place of honour, and having (5) and (6) qualities.

 

The most (7) icons were created not only to be worshipped, to provide aid and healing, but also for man to find solace, joy and harmony with the world after admiring the icon's beauty. They were kept on (8) altars in the home, attached to poles at the roadsides or carried high above troops setting off on (9) campaigns. (10) icon painting embodied

 

(11) ideas of the world through the portrayal of events from the life of Christ, the Virgin and the Saints. The symbolism of the icon was founded on the philosophy that everything in the world is only an (12) layer which obscures the (13) meaning. (14) meant the passion of Christ,

(15) was the (16) colour of heaven, (17) personified joy and (18) the treachery of Judas.

 

The (19) Russian icons appeared in Kiev in the 10th –11th centuries. They were based on (20) prototypes, with (21) icons (22) to frescoes and their (23) colours and symmetry of composition expressing (24) calm and serenity. At the end of the 14th century Theophanes the Greek came to work in Russia and influenced (25) artists with his (26), (27) art.

 

One of the (28) points in Russian icons painting was the 15th century art of Andrei Rublyov. The (29) depth and (30) character of images are perfectly reflected in the composition, the (31) rhythms of lines and (32)

(33) colours of Rublyov's icons. Prince Dmitry Donskoi took Rublyov's icons to the (34) battle of Kulikovo Polye (1380). Icon-painting also

 

flourished in the (35) city of Novgorod, with a style close to folklore traditions – (36), but (37) because of the spontaneity of expression, (38) colours and (39) simplicity. At the end of the 15th century, Dionysius created masterpieces which influenced icon painting for two centuries. He was a (40) colorist, his colours formed cords, especially in (41) scenes with (42) numbers of characters. In the 16th century, icons acquired a (43) character. A century later icons became (44), resembling jewelry with their (45) colours and (46) detail.

 

The reforms of Peter the Great led to the westernization of (47) society and with this a slump in interest in icons.

 

UNIT 16. WORLD CUSTOMS ORGANISATION

 

 

Study the following words and word combinations from the text.

 

to accomplish the mission выполнять миссию

 

to comprise включать

 

endeavours усилия

 

to develop a framework разработать основу

 

to simplify time-consuming упростить отнимающий много

controls времени контроль

 

to combat fraudulent activities бороться с мошеннической дея-

internationally тельностью на международном

уровне

 

 

TEXT 16.1. WCO

 

The World Customs Organization (WCO) is the only international intergovernmental organization that deals with Customs procedures governing trade between countries. Its work aims to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of Customs administrations across the globe, and to help them fulfil their dual role of facilitating trade whilst ensuring its security.

Born after the Second World War out of a desire by countries to re-launch world trade, and to provide a platform for the discussion of Customs issues, the WCO – officially established in 1952 as the Customs Co-operation Council – held its first meeting on 26 January 1953.

 

Today, the WCO represents 179 Customs administrations across the globe that collectively process approximately 98% of world trade. As the global centre of Customs expertise, the WCO is the only international organization with competence in Customs matters and can rightly call itself the voice of the international Customs community.

 

The WCO's governing body – the Council – relies on the competence and skills of a Secretariat and a range of technical and advisory committees to accomplish its mission. The Secretariat, comprises over 100 international officials, technical experts and support staff of some nationalities.

 

The WCO offers its Members a range of Conventions and other international instruments, as well as technical assistance and training services provided either directly by the Secretariat, or with its participation. The Secretariat also actively supports its Members in their endeavours to modernize and build capacity within their national Customs administrations. The WCO has forged ahead with efforts to develop a framework for a Public Relations/Communication strategy for Member administrations.

The WCO can offer help to its members through various Programmes which can help Customs administrations become more effective and efficient. The main objectives of the Programmes are:

 

· to develop and improve systems of Customs control;

· to simplify time-consuming border controls;

· to promote trade.

 

As a result, a whole range of potential benefits are available to governments and society:

 

ü the collection of more revenue;

ü an increase in the detection of fraud and smuggling of prohibited and restricted goods;

 

ü the reduction of trading business overheads and easier access to international markets;

ü better targeted training and technical assistance;

ü better strategic planning;

ü the production of more accurate and timely statistical and management information.

 

Besides the vital role played by the WCO in stimulating the growth of legitimate international trade, it also makes efforts to combat fraudulent activities internationally. For that purpose the WCO has developed its enforcement strategy.

 

By promoting the development of an honest, transparent and predictable Customs environment, the WCO directly contributes to the economic and social well-being of its Members.

Finally, in an international environment characterized by instability and the ever-present threat of terrorist activity, the WCO's mission is to enhance the protection of society and the national territory, and to secure and facilitate international trade.

 

In order to fulfill its mission, the WCO:

ü establishes, maintains, supports and promotes international instruments for the harmonization and uniform application of simplified and effective Customs systems and procedures;

 

ü reinforces Members' efforts to secure compliance with their legislation in order to combat Customs and other trans-border offences;

ü assists Members in their efforts to meet the challenges of the modern business environment and adapt to changing circumstances by promoting co-operation among Members and by fostering human resource development, improvements in the management and working methods of Customs administrations and sharing of best practices.

 

More and more administrations are beginning to realise that the survival of Customs depends on the transformation of its «bag-opening gate-keeper» image into one of «the facilitator and protector of society». The World Customs Organization offers Customs administrations around the world the opportunity to effectively meet the challenging demands of today's highly competitive and rapidly changing world.

 

EXERCISES

 

I. Find the words/phrases in the text which follow the verbs below.

 

1. to deal with 5. to combat

 

2. to improve 6. to secure

 

3. to provide 7. to meet

 

4. to offer 8. to adapt

 

II. Look at the phrases below and fill in the table by putting them into three groups.

 

origin rules	protector
protection of society	consultation
trade regulation	diagnostic study tool
bag-opening	policy makers
facilitator of society	revenue collection
gate-keeper	modernization
I. Customs	II. The WCO's		III. The image of
Administrations'	projects		a Customs officer
responsibilities

 

III. Translateскомуthe following questions into English.

 

 

1. Каким браз м таможенные власти могут способствовать эко-

решатьномич и социальному благосостоянию народов?

 

2. Где и когда был принят проект, основанный на новых правилах происхождения (товара), согласно которому компании сами будут

, где размещать оборудование по производству и сборке?

3. Существуют ли другие проекты ВТАО относительно сотруд-ничества с таможнями в их борьбе с наркотиками, отмыванием денег и коммерческими нарушениями?

 

4. Какие мероприятия были организованы таможенниками во всем мире в связи с годовщиной ВТАО?

 

5. Как таможня может изменить свой образ «сторожа, откры-вающего чемоданы» на образ «помощника и защитника отечества»?

 

6. Какие усилия были недавно предприняты ВТАО для разра-ботки структуры по связям с общественностью?

 

 

Study the following words and word combinations from the text.

 

intelligence	сведения, информация
Regional Intelligence	Региональный узел связи по право-
Liaison Offices (RILOs)	охран	работе Всемирной
	таможеннойтельнойорганизации
to supplement data	дополнять данные
to disseminate information	распространять информацию
modus operandi	м дус операнди, метод работы
encryption technology	технология шифрования
to permit access	разрешить доступ зарегистрирован-
to authorized users	ным пользователям