Ex-USSR, ex-US presidents optimistic about the future of their countries

Ex-USSR President Mikhail Gorbachev and ex-United States President George Bush, Sr., are optimistic about the future of their countries. They stated this during a meeting with the teaching staff and students of Moscow School of Economics of Moscow State University on Monday. A light lunch was served to them.

Bush, Sr., who arrived in Moscow on a three-day private visit on Monday, deemed it necessary to meet with Gorbachev in the first hours of his stay on Russian land. He meets with Gorbachev at least twice a year. The basis for the relations of the two politicians was laid down when they were presidents. During their historic meeting on Malta in December 1989, Gorbachev and Bush stated that the USSR and the US were no longer adversaries.

Gorbachev believes the number of problems in the world did not decrease with the ending of the Cold War. “We have moved away from the situation that rested on the mechanism of confrontation, but after the disintegration of the USSR upon the ending of the Cold War the United State developed the complex of the winner and at times pays no attention to others,” Gorbachev told reporters. Gorbachev criticized the United States policy more than once in the recent years.

“We have found ourselves in the global world we don’t know how to manage,” Gorbachev said. He believes the unresolved problem of poverty is the main aggravating circumstance. It is precisely this problem that leads to the so-called “flower revolutions” in the post-Soviet expanse, and to the rolling back of democracy in a number of countries. Gorbachev believes the world met with the troubled times again.

Addressing students of the school of economics that has the aim to educate the new business elite of the country, Bush expressed the hope that the young people would take the chance offered them by Gorbachev and himself. Bush described as Gorbachev’s chief merit the ending of the Cold War and Russia’s transition to democratic development. He said since that time his heart belongs to Russia.
 
The 41st president of the United States said he was optimistic about the future of the two countries and the development of bilateral relations.

The two ex-presidents did not discuss international problems during their informal meeting. “We did not talk about politics. We just lunched and had a drink,” Gorbachev said.

They were served salmon and loin of lamb. The luncheon was held on the premises of Moscow School of Economics. Mikhail Gorbachev and his foundation played a part in creating the school, which is now housed in what used to be the university canteen.

Itar-Tass,  May 23, 2005