14 April 2008
Gorbachev calls for more international cooperation
SANTA FE, N.M.—Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev criticized America's military buildup since the Cold War and called Monday for more international cooperation to resolve political and global environmental problems.
"It is my impression that America, judging by its military budget, seems to be almost at war with the world," Gorbachev said at a news conference.
The growing U.S. defense budget, he said, is "pushing other countries in the same direction" and the expansion of conventional weapons also undermines efforts to abolish nuclear weapons.
He said the original nuclear powers—the United States, Russia, France, Britain and China—need to do more to stop nuclear proliferation and eliminate nuclear weapons.
"It will be hard to trust America if militarization continues in other areas. We cannot just abolish nuclear weapons and have a situation whereby America would have an overwhelming superiority over all other countries combined in other weapons of force," said Gorbachev, speaking through a translator.
Gorbachev, who left office in 1991, was in Santa Fe to deliver a speech to benefit the Santa Fe Institute, a private nonprofit research and education center. He made his comments at a news conference before his lecture.
The 77-year-old Gorbachev was Soviet leader from 1985 to 1991.
He also criticized the U.S. for taking a unilateral approach to foreign policy.
"America must not abuse the trust of its friends and partners," he said. "America has virtually stopped working together and cooperating even with its allies."
He called for a "global glasnost"—an openness in the press and political debate—to educate citizens about problems such as global warming so that people can push their governmental leaders for solutions.
In his speech, Gorbachev said the world faced three enormous problems: security, including the danger of weapons of mass destruction, poverty and threats to the environment.
He described poverty as a "time bomb more powerful than anything that we have seen in the world."
He issued a global call to action, saying "we need solutions, not solutions through domination and the use of force, but leadership through partnership."
Associated Press 14.04.2008
