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20 April 2005

Gorbachev: Don''t fear Russians: Ex-Soviet chief in Hub.

Relationships cultivated between the United States and Russia two decades ago need help, former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev says.

``We need to build new bridges,'' he told hundreds of representatives of New England's software industry yesterday. ``Your discussion about information technology is one of these bridges.''

With the aid of a translator, the former Soviet leader addressed the Massachusetts Software Council's spring meeting.

Gorbachev showed the vigor for which he's famous, at times hitting the podium to emphasize a point.

The former Soviet leader cited his perestroika movement - now nearing its 20th anniversery - as the beginning of working relations between the United States and Russia.

``After so many years, so many decades of confrontation . . . we reached out to each other,'' he said, recalling his own often turbulent relationship with the Reagan adminstration.

Looking to the future, Gorbachev said Russia - once a country that dominated global science and technology - is poised for a comeback.

``The Russian society today is ready to make a breakthrough into the future,'' he said.

The former Soviet leader specifically praised RUSSOFT - a group of Russian software companies - for its international presence.

Turning to other topics, Gorbachev called former Russian President Boris Yeltsin's term in office an ``era of chaos,'' blaming Yeltsin for crippling Russia's economy.

Gorbachev also listed globalization as a common challenge to security around the world.

He said businesses need to make their missions less about profits and more about eliminating poverty and protecting the environment. The former Soviet leader heralded the late Pope John Paul II as a champion of those ideals.

Gorbachev also emphasized the importance of equality in U.S.-Russian relations, saying that Russia wouldn't accept the position of ``junior partner.''

He said that while the global community - including the United States - might fear a strengthening Russia, such concerns are misplaced. ``Russia and the United States should leave the trenches of the Cold War,'' he said.

Asked later at a news conference if idealogical differences between President Bush and Russian leader Vladimir Putin represent a potential snare for U.S.-Russian business partnerships, Gorbachev said the White House and Kremlin share common democratic principles.

But he added that implementation of these principles will look different in practice.

Gorbachev also stressed that diplomacy is the key to sucessful relations. ``You cannot impose anything by using missiles,'' he said.