Moscow: Former Soviet Union President, Mikhail Gorbachev who is also credited with a crucial role in ending the Cold War, lamented on Friday about the rising tension in US-Russian relations and made it clear that Moscow would not be consigned by Washington to the role of "junior partner" on the world stage.
In an article published in the government daily Rossyskaya Gazeta, Gorbachev said there had of late been "several worrying trends in relations between the United States and Russia" on topics ranging from Middle East security to Russian democracy and influence in former Soviet republics.
Prominent politicians in both countries -- he singled out US Senator John McCain out in particular sating that McCain spoke of the US-Russian bilateral relationship more frequently in terms that smacked off Cold War-style rhetoric and that undermined huge gains made in the past two decades.
"I can say with full responsibility that the policy of dialogue and cooperation taken by the Russian and US presidents is supported by the political and social circles of our countries," Gorbachev wrote.
"But recently the worry has arisen.Will this policy continue?" Gorbachev, the last leader of the Soviet Union, said
"Euphoria" that swept Russia in the 1990s about the prospect of close relations with the United States had been replaced by disillusionment after Washington "applauded" radical reformers whose policies plunged Russia into crisis.
"At the same time, the United States reserved the role for itself in the international arena as prosecutor, judge and policeman. This could not but have been rejected, and not only by Russia." Gorbachev added.
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