Boris Yeltsin Transcript ...spoke to US Congress 1992

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Now that the period of global confrontation is behind us, I call upon you to take a fresh look of [sic] the current policy of the United States towards Russia and also to take a fresh look at the longer term prospects of our relations. Russia is a different country today. Sometimes the obsolete standards brought into being by a different era are artificially imposed on new realities. True, that equally applies to us. Let us together, therefore, master the art of reconciliating differences on the basis of partnership which is the most efficient and democratic way. This would come naturally both for the Russians and the Americans. If this is done, many of the problems which are now impeding mutual, advantageous cooperation between Russia and the United States would become irrelevant, and I mean legislative frameworks too. It will not be a wasteful endeavor. On the contrary, it will promote a more efficient solution of your problems as well as of ours. And, of course, it will create new jobs in Russia as well as in the United States. History is giving us a chance to fulfill President Wilson's dream, mainly to make the world safe for democracy.

More than 30 years ago President Kennedy addressed these words to humanity: "My fellow citizens of the world, ask not what America can do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man." I believe that his inspired call for working together towards a democratic world is addressed above all to our two peoples­to the people of America and to the people of Russia. Partnership and friendship of our two largest democracies is strengthening democracy, is indeed a great goal.

Joining the world community, we wish to preserve our identity, our own image and history, promote culture and strengthen moral standards of our people. We find relevant the warning of the great Russian philosopher [unintelligible] who said, "To negate Russia in the name of humankind is to rob the humankind." At the same time, Russia does not aspire to change the world in its own image. It is the fundamental principal of the new Russia to be generous and to share experience, moral values and emotional warmth rather than to impose and curse. It is the tradition of the Russian people to repay kindness with kindness. This is the bedrock of the Russian lifestyle, the underlying truth revealed by the great Russian culture. Free and democratic Russia will remain committed to this tenet. Today, free and democratic Russia is extending its hand of friendship to the people of America. Acting on the will of the people of Russia, I am inviting you, and through you the people of the United States, to join us in partnership, in the quest for freedom and justice in the 21st century.

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