Практикум по синхронному переводу с русского языка на английский

There has been the beginning of the emergence/We have seen the beginnings of/There has been a start of/encouraging trends through a drop in infant mortality: in 1996 the coefficient for infant mortality was 17.4, and in 1997 - 16.9 cases per 1000 births.
The available/existing data, however, do not allow for an appropriate/proper/accurate determination of the length, intensity,
regional differentiation, structure and consequences of the demographic crisis and the impact on it of external factors.
A vital/critically important/crucial/objective/task here is to obtain/extract/produce/true and reliable information in the field of population. An extremely important source of such information is the census. Here/in this connection/in this context we would like to support/back the idea/notion that without reliable statistical data and indicators it is impossible to formulate/make/draw up proper policy in the field of population.
In formulating Russia's demographic policy the government is attempting/trying to increase/expand the number/range of its partners, and is actively involving in this work (inter alia) social/public organizations and non-governmental organizations.
Thank you.
In addition to some specific demographic terms, which tend to appear frequently these days in texts at conferences, this speech contains a number of tricky syntactic problems. It also provides useful training in writing down numbers.
Комментарии:
1) занимают одно из высших мест — can easily be reduced to "is one of
the most important priorities" or "is one of the most important things," or
simply, "is of great importance."
2) может быть охарактеризована как кризисная — "can be termed
critical" is a concise translation, or even, "is critical."

3. 
   ее основными чертами являются — "its major features/factors are" is
   a solution. Or, following "is critical," the interpreter can say, "because of:
   the deterioration in health... etc."
   

3.