Former Russian President Mikhail Gorbachev spoke yesterday about Russia’s past and the future of international politics as part of the 10th anniversary of the perestroika policy that opened Russian borders.

Focusing on the future, Gorbachev voiced the need to see an increase in globally cooperative politics. While Gorbachev said he sympathized with U.S. fears, he also incorporated those fears into the international landscape.

‘At a time like right now, when nuclear weapons threaten mankind, we must give universal human interests the most attention,’ Gorbachev said to the audience at the Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies at Harvard University.

‘Today, national interests are often hyped,’ he observed. ‘You have to look for balance, but you should not impose national interests on the rest of the world.’

Gorbachev went on to depict the ideal course of action for the United States.

‘You must look at Iraq from a broad perspective. Right now, the emphasis is on military force when it should be on using international law and the Security Council,’ he said.

The pace of political change in any region is crucial to the movement’s success, according to Gorbachev. Although the U.S. media criticized the speed of his enactment of perestroika after the policy was set in motion, Gorbachev said, in the end his speed was in line with the desires of the general populace of Russia.

Gorbachev linked American impatience with the Russian people to American impatience with the Iraqi people.

‘When you have an international commitment to change, the base of that change is crucial,’ he said. ‘If you insist on an unrealistic pace for changes, there will be bad consequences. In the Soviet Union, perestroika could only begin when the people were ready to take initiative and responsibility. The country was ready because of its history of suffering and yearning for reform.’

Gorbachev further suggested leaders stay attuned to the pace of their people rather than the whims of international public opinion.

‘Sometimes, you just have to take the blows. You can’t listen to all the criticism you have to ignore all the political sneezing. You can’t afford to be deaf to the country’s pulse,’ Gorbachev said.

Gorbachev also cautioned against using humiliation and moral irresponsibility, adding the importance of human dignity is critical to political policy.

‘I’ve never agreed with those who humiliate a people. Compromise should not be a loss of faith and an injury to human dignity,’ he said. ‘There is value in the democratic relationships between nations, but there is not value in loose irresponsible attitudes.’

Gorbachev voiced hopes for a new world order and a faith in the youth of his country and the world, reminding the audience of students, professors and academics, ‘you can not force history.’

Following Gorbachev’s speech, a Brazilian citizen visiting the United States agreed with Gorbachev’s criticisms of America and advised U.S. politicians to listen to world figures.

Thirty-one-year-old Sidney Silva suggested the United States ‘rethink its foreign policy. It should be using international leaders before taking political actions.’

Another audience member said she found Gorbachev’s speech inspiring.

‘I think it’s neat how he’s working on future policy with President Clinton. He’s so energized and optimistic about the future,’ said Diana Weigmann, a 50-year-old KSG fellowship student.