Gorbachev discusses future of Russia in Phoenix speech

A focus on education, political freedoms and free enterprise will be decisive factors in Russia's future, Mikhail Gorbachev, former president of the Soviet Union, said in a visit to the Valley on Saturday.

"As a transitioning country, I can say that we are a little more than halfway down the path of that transition," he said through a translator.

Gorbachev spoke on "Global Leadership of the 1980s: USSR & U.S." at the Arizona Biltmore. His speech was part of a daylong leadership event of the Thunderbird School of Global Management, O'Connor House, Arizona State University, the Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce and Eight, Arizona PBS.

"No country, even the U.S., can cope with the world's problems without cooperation from others," said Gorbachev, who led the former Soviet Union from 1985 to 1991.

In commenting on effective world leaders, Gorbachev said he "liked" U.S. President Barack Obama.

"He's an interesting president, a modern president. He's also sensitive," Gorbachev said. "And he can take the blows. Leadership without that is impossible."

In introducing Gorbachev to the crowd, retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor spoke of his commitment to ending the rule of communism in Eastern Europe.

"He made efforts to democratize his country's political system and to decentralize its economy," she said. "He went to extensive lengths to cultivate better relationships and trade with developed nations."

Gorbachev said the media often presented the end of the Cold War primarily as a victory for the Western world, but that it was actually a collaboration. "Through joint efforts, our nations put an end to the confrontation that had lasted for several decades," he said.

Soviet citizens were more eager to see the fall of communism than many people realize, Gorbachev said. They yearned for the business and technology that Europe was experiencing, he said.

"The need for change was very strongly felt in our country," Gorbachev said. "The Soviet Union was lagging behind."

Gorbachev spoke of his hope for Russia to make more strides in free enterprise, even under Vladimir Putin, who some believe could halt that progress.

"I think there is no other way to go. We need to go in that direction," he said.

Gorbachev said success of the collaborative efforts between the U.S. and the Soviet Union often surprised those involved. He pointed to the Geneva Summit, an historic 1985 meeting with President Ronald Reagan to discuss the relationship and nuclear-arms race between the U.S. and Soviets.

"I think, on both sides, there were doubts that we would succeed in changing our relationship," he said. "Trust took a long time to emerge."

Gorbachev admitted there's been an increase of anti-American sentiment in Russia in recent years.

"I think something must happen for us to rebuild that trust. It will not be easy," he said. "That euphoria, that friendship kind of fell apart."

Russians can take just criticism, Gorbachev said, but asked Western countries to be patient with the country as they move forward.

If there is a criticism, he said, it's that the U.S. should give developing nations time to resolve their challenges.

"We see the U.S. trying too often to intervene into domestic situations in different countries," he said. "America gives advice to others and tries to influence and lecture others."

Gediminas Almantas, a visiting scholar at Thunderbird from Lithuania, said Gorbachev's speech was kinder to the U.S. than others he's made in Europe.

"It was calm," Almantas said. The spirit was very nice instead of arrogant or insulting. The talk was very friendly."

The Republic/Azcentral.com, 28.04.2012