Практикум по синхронному переводу с русского языка на английский

огромное значение имеет создание таких условий... — starting the
sentence with "It is" — "It is of the greatest importance to create such
conditions/that such conditions be created" is a lot easier than trying to
work around "Of great significance is the creation of such conditions,"
etc. "It is" and "There is" are two of the most useful tools in the
interpreter's verbal kit.

18. 
    между президентами России и США Б.Н.Ельциным и Б.Клинтоном
    достигнуто понимание — there are two problems here. First of all, the
    interpreter should once again think nominative. Starting the sentence with
    "The Presidents of Russia and the US... have reached an understanding"
    will make for a much smoother sentence than the clumsy "Between the
    presidents of Russia and the US...an understanding has been achieved."
    In interpretation into English initials should not be used, as this is not
    accepted practice. Either "President Boris Yeltsin and President Bill
    Clinton" or "President Yeltsin and President Clinton" will do.
    

20) жизни уносят — "lives are swept away" is extremely awkward.
"People arc being killed" or "victims are claimed" or "casualties are being
caused" are possibilities. And here a continuous present tense — i.e. "are being killed" is absolutely necessary, since a continuing process is being described. Обычные вооружения are always translated as "conventional" weapons or arms.

21. 
    задача назревшая — this can be a task or problem which is long­
    standing, to which a solution is long overdue, or simply an "urgent
    problem."
    

21.