New York: Criticising the United States for getting "intoxicated" by its position as the world's only superpower, former Soviet Union President Mikhail Gorbachev has asked Washington to realise that it also has responsibilities.
In an interview to be published in the upcoming issue of Time magazine, Gorbachev said the United States cannot impose its will on others. And the talk of pre-emptive strikes, of ignoring the UN Security Council and international legal obligations are leading towards a "dark night" he added.
Some people, he emphasised, might be pushing President George W Bush in the wrong direction but he rejected the suggestion that Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was one of them.
"She is one who is committed to political and diplomatic solutions. But she is having a difficult time. So did Colin Powell," Gorbachev said.
He was highly critical of his successor Boris Yeltsin, saying he ruined Russia and allowed the wealth of the nation to be taken away by a few people. "And West was never critical of Yeltsin."
Gorbachev also added that the current Soviet Union President Vladimir Putin is trying to "clean the mess" left by Yeltsin now.
However, Gorbachev praised Putin for trying to move forward towards more social-democratic policies, to improve health care and education as also other sectors.
But he lamented that just as Russia is beginning to rise again, the West does not accept it. "But American cannot impose its will and should get over that," opined Gorbachev.
Comments
0 comment