| Gorbachev: "The future will develop under the influence of the Perestroika" |
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| Thursday, 04 February 2010 05:10 | |||||
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{mosimage}"I'm sure that the story of today and the future will develop under the influence of ideas and projects of perestroika," says £ Mikhail Gorbachev, former president of the USSR. In 1986, the Soviet regime opened the first breach in the Iron Curtain. Mikhail Gorbachev, then new Secretary General of the Communist Party, announced on 27th Party Congress an ambitious plan for political and social reforms. A plan to save the regime that eventually precipitated the fall of the Berlin Wall and the end of the Soviet Union. Today, the microphone Euronews, Gorbachev does not regret the end of political career and defends the success of the project. Return to the events that made history. Maria Piñeiro, euronews - Mr. Gorbachev, and declined to modernize the Soviet Union with the famous political and Glasnost Perstroika. What was the difference between them and what was the final goal? Mikhail Gorbachev - Glasnost is freedom, freedom of speech, press. We wanted citizens to have access to information in the broadest sense. It was very important because a person who has access to information is immediately outside of politics and real life. The Perestroika was a program with which we have come to power and that would allow us make the changes that were inevitable in the Soviet Union. Without Glasnost and without the people it was impossible. I think if there had been no glasnost, perestroika would never have worked. The Perestroika was the participation of the people, was the obligation to have it always informed. It was the discussion, dialogue within the society. The power exercised through the glasnost and freedom of the press. Glasnost and perestroika are closely related, were two sides of same coin. euronews - What was the impact of the fall of the Berlin Wall in his reform project? There was one before and one after? MG - I think we participated in the fall because this time, at that time, the USSR was to carry out sweeping reforms in politics, economics and other areas. The fact that the Wall came down was the proof that the Soviet Union would not intervene in the choice that the other countries of the Warsaw Pact had done before. It confirmed that these countries could freely choose its political systems, schemes, models. In the countries of the Warsaw Pact were made the velvet revolutions, these people made their own choice and never intervened. It would be bizarre to treat Germany otherwise, as a country leper. It would be unfair to the people, nation. People have left the streets for days and days. For us, it was clear that something would happen, that a big change was afoot. Three months before the Wall came down, I was on an official visit in West Germany and the journalists asked us - me and Mr. Helmut Kohl, during our meetings we discussed about the "German question". We replied that yes, of course, and then asked us what we decided. We replied that we were aware that it must have been the issue, but we thought it would be the history that would solve the problem, probably in the century. Three months after the case. We had been ill prophets and history has given us a good lesson. euronews - Where was the night of November 9, 1989? How did you live tonight? What memories do you? MG - I was in Moscow and, as it was night was sleeping. It was our ambassador who called me at dawn, to inform. And I said we had to accept because the Germans had already opened some holes in the wall. .. and how that was not enough just to bring him down. During the first three days, three million people visited the wall in both directions. It was not difficult to understand that separate nation for 40 years, when people could not see such families, it was a drama ... I think we should say bravo to the politicians of that time. Certainly there were many questions, discussions very violent. François Mitterrand, for example, said that he liked both the Germans and West Germany would be better than one! Margaret Thatcher also did not want reunification. And I had the impression, not just me, they wanted to prevent the reunification but it was Gorbachev's decision. I said no, thinking that not because it felt right. We react as the situation has forced us, and with responsibility, due to everything that was happening in Europe and the rest of the world. euronews - After spending more than a year as president, a coup forced him to resign in 1991. Soon after the Soviet Union disappeared. Because the project failed? MG - First of all, I disagree with the conclusion of the failure of our project. Rather, it was such a success that democratic reform could begin in the Soviet Union. After the disintegration, Russia today continues to develop, the market economy and pluralism in different areas such as politics, ideology, religion, etc.. Moreover, today we see as a result of these changes, there is now nothing can force the country to reverse, although the Perestroika was stopped by force. So the Perestroika won, and on this, my opinion is different from yours. It was I who lost as a politician ... but it happens. I must also say that during all these changes there was no bloodshed or almost. Unfortunately there were some casualties but we were able to avoid a bloodbath. And this is a victory of perestroika. euronews - made a mistake? MG - Yes, many mistakes. It took us to make the reform of the Communist Party and the reform of the Soviet Union. We were not able to see the time the major social problems. When the population began to gain better, the market was not able to provide you with consumer products. There were huge queues ... I agree with those who think that, in this sense, the masters of Perestroika made mistakes. But this does not detract from the fact that perestroika played a decisive role in Russia, Europe and the rest of the world because it was thanks to her that changes have occurred in Central and Eastern Europe. Perestroika was that led to the disarmament and many other things. We took up relations with China. Thirty years of hostilities gave rise to an intense friendship. Not to mention the made with the United States established a relationship of true partners. euronews - Mr Gorbachev, you pass into history as a hero to some as the leader of a disaster for others. With that part of the story is? MG - It is normal. The conclusions of the people are the result of understanding they have of things. I'm sure the story of today and the future will develop under the influence of ideas and projects of perestroika. Probably what I say is not very modest but I was not the sole responsibility of Perestroika. Before me, the progressive forces began to work in the Soviet Union, after it spread to other people, as the countries of the Warsaw Pact. Relations with the major Western countries have changed. Today I have a clear conscience.
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| Last Updated on Thursday, 04 February 2010 05:14 |
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