Former Soviet president issues warning on U.S. foreign relations.
By: Gwen McNamara
TRENTON Twenty years ago, relations between Russia and the United States were anything but friendly. Cold War tensions, espionage and nuclear arms were at their peak.
But that didn’t stop a delegation of Trenton-area business and political leaders from traveling to Moscow and establishing what would become a fruitful sister-city relationship between Trenton and Moscow.
On Monday, in recognition of this achievement and the 20th anniversary of "perestroika" the Russian program of economic, political and social restructuring that transformed the country the TrenMos Fund, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the promotion of New Jersey-Russian relations, along with the Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce and Greater Mercer County Chamber of Commerce, brought in one of the 20th century’s top political icons for a special fund-raising event.
Former Soviet Union President Mikhail Gorbachev spoke to a mixed crowd of more than 1,400 students, citizens, government officials and business leaders at the Sovereign Bank Arena early Monday afternoon.
Mr. Gorbachev, who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1990, toured area historical sites Sunday and met with acting Gov. Richard Codey on Monday morning before coming to the arena.
The leader of the Soviet Union from 1985 to 1991, Mr. Gorbachev is credited with helping to end the Cold War and the Communist Party’s rule in Eastern Europe. His policies of perestroika government restructuring and glasnost political openness paved the way for the Russian government’s democratic transformation.
On Monday, he spoke through an interpreter of Russia’s challenges in embracing democracy and the role both Russia and the United States must play in the future to "create a new world order."
"I’m often asked … whether perestroika was necessary," Mr. Gorbachev said. "I became aware of the failure of initial utopian attempts to repair the old system. I realized the system had to be replaced.
"I believe perestroika was a profound triumph, even though it was interrupted," he continued. "It brought the nation of the Soviet Union from a land of no freedom and totalitarianism to one of freedom of religion, freedom of speech and market capitalism."
Democracy in Russia was sidetracked under the leadership of former president Boris Yeltsin, Mr. Gorbachev said.
"He replaced the evolutionary process of reform with shock therapy," he said. "He decided Russia could go it alone, use its own resources to create a positive economy. He wanted quick results, and as a result of his reckless adventure the people of Russia suffered. President Putin inherited this oversight and at least with his first term ended the chaos."
Today, Russia and the United States need to continue to work together to make a difference on the world scene, he said.
"I am confident that the relationship of hostility between Russia and the United States is over," Mr. Gorbachev said. "The best is yet to come."
Still the United States needs to learn to play nice with others, he said.
"With the fall of the Soviet Union, a complex of victory particularly in the United States arose," Mr. Gorbachev said. "This superiority complex does affect the message of Western policies and is not adequate for the new challenges we face."
He used the United States’ use of force in Iraq as an example.
"Too many people want the easy solution and fall to ‘might is right,’" he said. "But they underestimate the discipline of civil society. You have to respect international law, and you can’t ignore the democratic opinion of the world.
"You can’t operate democracy within your borders and act under the law of the jungle in the rest of the world," he continued.
Moving forward, the United States and other nations need to make sure the basic needs of their people are met to prevent political and social unrest.
"The biggest test to democracy is to address the vital needs of the people," Mr. Gorbachev said. "When a democratic country does not do enough, people can revert and prefer totalitarian governments. It’s something of great concern.
"It’s also not right to impose a single model of democracy," he added. "Each democracy needs to reflect a country’s unique history and mindset. It can’t be instituted at bayonet or missile point."
All proceeds raised from Monday’s event went to the TrenMos Fund, Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, a sister-city soup kitchen in Moscow and the Gorbachev Foundation.

