10 апреля 2018
Q:The current situation has already gained comparisons to the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1961. Do you share such views?
A:I hope we will not come to this after all. Still, I am deeply concerned. We have not seen such a situation in a while, and I am deeply frustrated with the way today’s leaders are doing business. We clearly see inability to maintain a dialogue or use diplomatic instruments. Global politics have turned into an exercise in mutual accusations, sanctions or even military strikes.
Q:So what is there to be done?
A:First off, we need to break this vicious cycle of sanctions and counter-sanctions. Political will needs to be shown, and efforts at further escalation should be abandoned.
The next step would be accelerating preparations for a summit between the leaders of the USA and Russia, since the current confrontation is mostly between our two countries. They need as soon as possible to meet “half-way” but in a full-fledged format– for one or two days of serious discussions with participation of respective foreign and defence ministers.
Q:What should they discuss?
A:I have already proposed two themes in my articles and interviews– these are strategic stability and curbing the arms race. Another important issue has come to the fore recently– prevention of incidents involving US and Russian troops and military hardware. I am confident: no one wants to go into war; however, in the current atmosphere of high tensions, such incidents can lead to a huge disaster.
Q:Why do you think this has not been done and why are things headed on a dangerous course?
A:I think one of the reasons is that people have not realised yet the urgency of the situation, and have not truly put their leaders under pressure. We need to have a peace movement relaunched. We need it not for people to engage in accusations or a blame game, but to demand that their leaders engage in a serious dialogue and rid the world of this looming threat.
Chronicle of M.S. Gorbachev`s activity
Describes the time from the moment of Mikhail Gorbachev`s election to the post of General Secretary of the Central Committee of the CPSU, until his resignation from the post of President of the USSR
Events
May 20, 2018
The Round Table: "From the Prague Spring to Perestroika"
October 27, 2017
Round Table “The 1917 Russian Revolution for Our Country and the World: 100 Years’ Retrospect”
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The Expertise Round Table. Perception of Russia across the East and West: Memory, Identity and Conflicts. International Study of Images of Russia across Eurasia: Results and Discussion