USA: WASHINGTON: FORMER SOVIET LEADER MIKHAIL GORBACHEV VISIT скачать в хорошем качестве

USA: WASHINGTON: FORMER SOVIET LEADER MIKHAIL GORBACHEV VISIT

(16 Apr 1997) Russian/Nat Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev has strongly attacked the proposed formula for NATO expansion eastwards. Gorbachev, speaking in Washington Tuesday, said that any attempt to humiliate Russia could have severe repercussions. He declared that the only acceptable form of NATO expansion would involve a ban on the deployment of nuclear weapons in new member countries. Mikhail Gorbachev told the US Congress Tuesday that they should reconsider including the former Soviet bloc in a new expanded NATO. He said that the addition of Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic could provoke a severe backlash in Russia. Expansion, he warned, would strengthen conservatives there, and toughen the resolve of their hard-line allies in the military. But he hinted that an agreement could be reached if the alliance pledged not to deploy nuclear weapons and combat units in the new member countries. Otherwise, he said, expansion would be a serious mistake. SOUNDBITE: (Russian) "I believe it's a mistake, it is a bad mistake and I am not persuaded by the assurances I hear that Russia has nothing to worry about." SUPER CAPTION: Mikhail Gorbachev Gorbachev warned NATO not to humiliate Russia the way the victorious allies did Germany after World War I. SOUNDBITE: (Russian) "You can not, you may not humiliate a nation, a people and think that it will have no consequences. So my question is, is this a new strategy?" SUPER CAPTION: Mikhail Gorbachev He accused top western leaders of having a hidden agenda, behind their assurances that NATO and Russia are now friends. Gorbachev said that dire consequences could result if NATO pressed ahead with expansion without Russian consent. SOUNDBITE: (Russian) "I feel that if the same kind of games continues to be played, if one country plays some card against the other country then all of those issues all of those problems we have been mentioning today will be very difficult to resolve. SUPER CAPTION: Mikhail Gorbachev Gorbachev, who is widely admired abroad for helping to end the Cold War, received standing ovations before and after his speech. But he remains deeply unpopular at home - he finished seventh out of 10 candidates in last June's presidential election. The majority of Russians still blame him for the economic chaos that followed the collapse of the Soviet Union. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...