Fox News reported an interesting story today that I thought was worthy of passing on to you readers. It offers readers the views of a Former Soviet Leader and in my opinion this is important to air these views to the people for them to get a new opinion from his perspective. Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev said today, “The political turmoil in Ukraine looks like a “real mess,” and he warns that it’s significant for the country to hold together in the battle for influence between Russia and the West.
Gorbachev who is 82-years-old in an interview with the Associated Press accentuated a need for external mediation to ease tensions in Ukraine. Ukraine became an independent country following the 1991 dissolution of the Soviet Union which he once led.
Ukraine is divided between pro-Russian eastern regions and western areas that desire closer ties with the European Union.
Gorbachev said of Ukraine, “No one wants it to come apart and personally I believe it’s important in today’s society not to tear it apart; and adding, “I’ve appealed to the leaders of the United States and Russia to act maybe as mediators, which would include the European Union.”
Gorbachev said, “This will permit the mediators to play a role in guaranteeing the crisis which now exists in Ukraine will not result in an intense breakup.”
These comments were made by Gorbachev during a visit to the United Arab Emirates city of Sharjah, which sits along the Persian Gulf coast north of Dubai; and during his address to the International Government Communication Forum, which is an annual gathering of policymakers, former political leaders and communications professionals.
In March 1985 Gorbachev became the Soviet leader and he began to promote policies of using “glasnost,” or openness, and “perestroika,” or restructuring.
Gorbachev’s intent was aimed at reforming the stagnant Soviet system, but the changing policies that he orchestrated to put into place brought about democratic changes leading to the breakup of the Soviet Union.
In 1990, Gorbachev, won the Nobel Peace Prize for his role in helping to end the Cold War.
Gorbachev’s speech to the conference on Sunday stated, “The political tumult in Ukraine eventually was a result of the Ukrainian government’s failure to act democratically, engage in dialogue and fight corruption.”
Late last year after Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych abandoned an agreement that would have strengthened the country’s ties with the European Union in favor of seeking closer cooperation with Moscow resulted in demonstrators “first” protests.
Gorbachev stated, “It appears there is a real mess there because the leaders of Ukraine showed unable to reach a kind of consensus in the country, in Ukrainian society. And this is why those issues became so acute;” and continuing, “There’s a new Ukraine and it must find its own niche.”
Yanukovych is being sought by Ukraine’s acting government to find and arrest him over accusations of mass crimes against protesters. Snipers fired on demonstrators during last week’s bloody violence in Ukraine’s post-Soviet history. Yanukovych’s whereabouts are uncertain.
Gorbachev suggested on Monday that “no” single outside power could dominate Ukraine’s future.
Gorbachev said, “No one should claim domination over Ukraine;” and he added, “If the European Union wants to have things its own way, the United States wants to have things their own way, and Russia want to have things in its own way, I believe that would be wrong.”
Gorbachev has been in poor health which has caused him to miss a number of events in recent months. He received assistance walking after delivering his speech on Sunday.
Gorbachev quipped, “There is not enough stability in the world, and there is not enough stability in my health,” as he was asked about his health.
Barbara Kasey Smith is the writer of this article based on a Fox News.Com Report.
Source:
Fox News Report & based on interview w/Associated Press