Gorbachev alarmed by militarizing politics, mentality

Former  Soviet  President Mikhail Gorbachev  has urged modern politicians to abstain from the use of force in the resolution of disputes.
     "We must loudly declare the danger of militarizing politics and our mentality.  There  is  nothing more absurd and alien to common sense and human experience  than  military  force  as  a  universal  tool  for the solution  of problems, an instrument of democratization and an incentive to economic growth," he told the media on Thursday.
     "Today's  problems  are  rooted in the deficiency of political will and leadership,  the  inability to learn lessons of the past and to look to the future," Gorbachev said.
     "Still,  I  am  optimistic.  I  believe  that  we  will  return  to international  laws,  the  UN  Charter  and  the Paris Charter for a New Europe our  countries  have  signed.  I  believe  we can form a European
security  architecture, which will make unthinkable the use of force and conflicts similar to the recent tragic events in the Caucasus," he said.

Interfax//25.09.2008