Interview with Professor Valentin Zorin
Russia and the US are marking the bicentenary of establishing diplomatic ties. The Russian National Exhibition in the McCormick Place exhibition center in Chicago is also dedicated to this event. Its slogan is “Russia-US: Reset of Relations. To Change the World, Start Changing Yourself”. The show is sponsored by the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade. The exhibition is aimed at developing trade and economic ties, expanding the existing and establishing new cooperation in different spheres. One of the main issues is education, namely creating conditions for the integration of scientific and educational programs and expanding academic exchange. The big part of the exposition presents innovations.
Valentin Zorin, one of the top experts on the US and VoR political observer, believes Russia and America reached the current partnership “per aspera”, which makes it even more valuable.
Russian-US relations have a complicated history. During the 200 years we came through lows like the “Cold War” and highs during developing economic and political ties. Mr. Zorin, you witnessed the development of bilateral relations throughout 50 years. Tell us about the key events.
200 years of Russian-US relations are historically unique. All the great powers had military conflicts with Russia during those years, except the US. We even were allies during WW2 and defeated Nazi Germany by joint efforts. Unfortunately, the US launched the “Cold War” after this important alliance. Historians wrangle over the time when it began and about the side which launched it. As I see it, the “Cold War” began on August 5, 1945 on the day of the US atomic bombing of Hiroshima without any necessity. Japan had already been defeated by that time and the Soviet Army had destroyed practically all Japanese troops. The nuclear bombing of Japanese cities was a figurative feast shown to Russia. In my opinion, this was when the “Cold War” began. This confrontation lasted for a long time and presented a big threat to the world. Still, attempts at improving relations, what we now call “resetting”, were made from both sides. I was at Khrushchev’s meeting with Eisenhower in Washington when the ice of the “Cold War” had slightly melted. Afterwards, President Nixon also tried to reduce tension at his meetings with Brezhnev. Mikhail Gorbachev met with Reagan in Zurich and Reykjavik and George W. Bush in Washington. Each meeting resulted in a slight reduction of tension. However, in my opinion, these bilateral efforts resulted in nothing. The “Cold War” still goes on in the filed of information.
It is obviously difficult to get rid of old habits hindering closer contacts, though both sides understand that they are barriers. Now it is important not to form new prejudices defaming Russia and America in the world. Which steps can we expect from Washington in this direction?
It’s reasonable to wonder what to expect from the current “reset” of bilateral relations. It is a burning issue, as the world is at a very important point now. President Obama, I think, is taking reasonable steps to abandon the previous policy pursued by George Bush, though it’s difficult. In Washington he stated a serious “resistance to resetting”. Now it is evident that working out a new treaty on strategic offensive weapons faces serious problems. The negotiations were due to begin a year before the old treaty expires. The Administration of George Bush deliberately ignored this term and passed it on to Barack Obama. This shows how serious the difficulties are that Barack Obama faces, as the “Cold War” was not only political but also economic. The notorious Jackson-Vanik amendment which now is a political joke is still valid. It was adopted as a protest of not letting Jews out of the USSR. Now this problem does not exist anymore but the amendment does. It is not just a historic relic but a valid law damaging normal economic relations between the two countries.
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