Mikhail Gorbachev Promotes Int*l Cooperation

George Knapp, Investigative Reporter

KLAS-TV is the CBS affiliate in Las Vegas, Nevada. March 22, 2004.

Former Russian President Mikhail Gorbachev, who won a Nobel Peace Prize for helping to end the cold war, was in Las Vegas Monday night, trying to drum up some interest in a topic very familiar to locals -- tourism. Gorbachev spoke at the Thomas and Mack. Earlier in the day, he talked about what Russia can learn from Las Vegas.
Russia and the United States still aren't exactly best friends, but it's clear the darkest days of the cold war are long gone, in large part because of contributions made by former Russian President Mikhail Gorbachev. He is in Las Vegas to help promote international cooperation through two 'isms' well known to Nevadans -- tourism and capitalism.
Mikhail Gorbachev, through his interpreter: "The fact that 39 million people visited Las Vegas last year shows it is a great achievement."
Gorbachev is hoping that some good old Las Vegas marketing know-how can rub off on Mother Russia. He's here to help raise money for a bold tourism initiative called the Russian Heritage Highway, similar to America's scenic By-way program.
The Russians want to invite the world to come visit the 435-mile stretch between Moscow and St. Petersburg, the very heart of that country's cultural and political heritage and the scene of world-shaking historical events.
A few catchy slogans are already in the works, and now the Russians are hoping to attract enough investment to build a string of hotels and other tourism facilities along the highway. Gorbachev even seemed more sympathetic to casinos based on the number of ordinary folks he's seen in Nevada gambling halls.
Mikhail Gorbachev, through his interpreter: "Maybe the really rich go to other places because all we saw were very ordinary people. Maybe the governor invites the really rich people to some special places."
Former Nevada Governor Bob Miller is a co-chairman of the Russian Heritage Highway plan. Gorbachev said that while it's important for our two governments to get along, it's even more desirable for face-to-face contacts between regular citizens, the kind Las Vegas knows so well.
Mikhail Gorbachev, through his interpreter: "Frankly in the past I used to think Las Vegas was a place that's not exactly right. I have seen that this is a very democratic place."
Democratic in the sense that everyone's tourism dollar is as welcome as the next guys.