Faced with tensions with Russia, Mikhail Gorbachev denounces the "arrogance" of the United States
Mikhail Gorbachev regrets that the Charter of Paris for a New Europe proposing a model based on cooperation and conflict prevention, adopted in 1990, has fallen into oblivion.
AFP PHOTO / ODD ANDERSEN
Text by: RFI Follow
2 min
On December 25, 1991, exactly 30 years ago, Mikhail Gorbachev announced on television his resignation from the post of President of the USSR, resulting in the disappearance of the Soviet bloc and the end of the Cold War.
Three decades later, relations between Russia and Western countries are extremely strained.
For Mikhail Gorbachev the origin of this crisis is to be found on the side of the United States.
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The United States had an "
arrogant
"
attitude
after
the disappearance of the USSR
, according to the
last Soviet leader
. "
It went to their heads, arrogance, self-satisfaction, they proclaimed themselves winners in the cold war while we had together saved the world from confrontation, from the nuclear arms race
," says Mikhail Gorbachev in an interview with the Russian news
agency Ria Novosti
, before asking: "
How can we hope for equitable relations with the United States, with the West, in this situation?"
"
Vladimir Putin
wants to obtain from the United States and its NATO allies a written commitment prohibiting any future enlargement of the Alliance to the east and any military cooperation in what Russia considers its area of influence, in particular Ukraine.
A Paris charter fallen into oblivion
For Mikhail Gorbachev, the Western camp wanted "to
build a new empire, it is there that the idea of the enlargement of NATO was born
".
He regrets that the
Charter of Paris for a new Europe
proposing a model based on cooperation and conflict prevention, adopted in 1990, has fallen into oblivion.
But Mikhail Gorbachev also believes that it is not too late to correct the situation, welcoming the
talks between the Russian and American representatives
scheduled for January in Geneva.
The former Soviet leader says he hopes "
that there will be a result, which will allow all European countries to feel safe
".
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To listen: Ukraine, an unstable country at the gates of Europe
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