Dissolution of the Soviet Union
| “ | Dear my compatriots and fellow citizens, as a result of the creation of the Commonwealth of Independent States, I cease my activities in the post of the U.S.S.R. president.
I am making this decision out of considerations based on principle. I have firmly stood for independence, self-rule of nations, for the sovereignty of the republics, but at the same time, for preservation of the union state, and for the unity of the country. Events went a different way. The policy prevailed of dismembering this country and disuniting this state, with which I cannot agree with. And after the Almaty meeting and the decisions made there, my position on this matter has not changed. Besides, I am convinced that the decisions of such scale should have been made on the basis of a popular expression of will. Yet, I will continue to do everything in my power so that agreements signed there should lead to real accord in society, and facilitate the escape from the crisis and the reform process. Addressing you for the last time in the capacity of the president of the U.S.S.R. I consider it necessary to express my evaluation of the road we have travelled since 1985, especially as there are a lot of contradictory, superficial and subjective judgments on that matter. Fate had it that when I found myself at the head of the state. It was already clear that all was not well in the country. There was plenty of everything: land, oil and gas, other natural riches, and God gave us lots of intelligence and talent, yet we lived much worse than developed countries and kept falling behind them more and more. The reason could already be seen: the society was suffocating in the vise of the command-bureaucratic system, doomed to serve ideology and bear the terrible burden of the arms race. It had reached the limit of its possibilities. All attempts at partial reform, and there had been many, had suffered defeat, one after another. The country was losing perspective. We could not go on living like that. Everything had to be changed radically. That is why not once have I regretted that I did not take advantage of the post of the communist general secretary only to rule as a czar for several years[1]. I considered it irresponsible and amoral. I realized that to start reforms of such scale in a society such as ours was a most difficult and even a risky thing. But even today I am convinced of the historic correctness of the democratic reforms that were started in the spring of 1985. The process of renovating the country and radical changes in the world community turned out to be far more complicated than could be expected. However, what has been done ought to be given its due. This society acquired freedom, liberated itself politically and spiritually, and this is the foremost achievement which we have not yet understood completely, because we have not learned to use freedom. However, work of historic significance has been accomplished. The totalitarian system which deprived the country of an opportunity to become successful and prosperous long ago has been eliminated. A breakthrough has been achieved on the way to democratic changes. Free elections, freedom of the press, religious freedoms, representative organs of power, and a multiparty system have became a reality, as human rights are recognized as the supreme principle. The movement to a diverse economy has started, equality of all forms of property is becoming established, people who work on the land are coming to life again in the framework of land reform, farmers have appeared, and millions of acres of land are being given over to people who live in the countryside and in towns. Economic freedom of the producer have been legalized, and entrepreneurship, shareholding, privatization are gaining momentum. In turning the economy toward a market, it is important to remember that this has been done for the sake of the individual. At this difficult time, all should be done for his social protection, especially for senior citizens and children. We live in a new world. The Cold War has ended, the arms race has stopped, as has the insane militarization which mutilated our economy. The threat of a world war has been removed. Once again, I want to stress that on my part everything was done during the transition period to preserve reliable control of the nuclear weapons. We opened ourselves to the world, gave up interference into other people’s affairs, and we gave up the use of troops beyond the borders of the country. Trust, solidarity and respect came in response. We have become one of the main foundations for the transformation of modern civilization on peaceful democratic grounds. The nations and peoples of this nation has gained real freedom to choose the way of their self-determination. The search for a democratic reformation of the multinational state brought us to the threshold of concluding a new Union Treaty. All these changes demanded immense strain. They were carried out with sharp struggle, with growing resistance from the old, obsolete forces: the former party-state structures, the economic apparatus, as well as our habits, ideological superstitions, and the psychology of sponging and levelling everyone out. They stumbled on our intolerance, low level of political culture, fear of change. That is why we lost so much time. The old system collapsed before the new one had time to begin working and the crisis in the society became even more acute. I am aware of the dissatisfaction with the difficult present-day situation, of the sharp criticism of authorities at all levels including my personal activities. But once again I’d like to stress: radical changes in such a vast country, and a country with such heritage, cannot pass painlessly without difficulties and shake-up. The August coup brought the general crisis to its ultimate limit. The most damaging thing about this crisis is the breakup of the statehood. And today I am worried by our people’s loss of the citizenship of a great country. The consequences may turn out to be very hard for everyone. I think it is vitally important to preserve the democratic achievements of the past years. They have been paid for by the suffering of our whole history, and our tragic experience. They must not be given up under any circumstances, or by any pretext, otherwise all our hopes for the better will be buried. I am saying all this straight and honest. It is my moral duty. Today I’d like to express my gratitude to all citizens who supported the policy of renovating the country, and those that got involved in the implementation of the democratic reforms. I am grateful to statesmen, public and political figures, millions of people abroad, those who understood our concepts and supported them, turned to us, and started sincere cooperation with us. I am leaving my post with apprehension, but also with hope, with faith in you, with your wisdom, and with the force of spirit. We are the heirs of a great civilization and its rebirth into a new, modern and dignified life now depends on one and all. I wish to thank with all my heart all those who have stood together with me all these years for the fair and good cause. Some mistakes could surely have been avoided, many things could have been done better but I am convinced that sooner or later our common efforts will bear fruit, and that our nations will live in a prosperous and democratic society. And don't forget, in Soviet Russia, Russia Collapses YOU!![2] - Mikhail Gorbachev (slightly altered) |
” |
See also[edit | edit source]
- Mikhail Gorbachev
- Boris Yeltsin
- Vladimir Putin
- Perestroika
- Goodbye Forever
- Gorbachev's unedited and raw speech