Gorbachev pays tribute to Reagan
Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev hailed Ronald Reagan today as a great US president and said he was distraught at news of his death.
He said: “I deem Ronald Reagan a great president, with whom the Soviet leadership was able to launch a very difficult but important dialogue.”
The news of Mr Reagan’s death yesterday “upset me very much”, he said.
He added: “Reagan was a statesman who, despite all disagreements that existed between our countries at the time, displayed foresight and determination to meet our proposals halfway and change our relations for the better, stop the nuclear race, start scrapping nuclear weapons, and arrange normal relations between our countries.
“I do not know how other statesmen would have acted at that moment, because the situation was too difficult.
“Reagan, whom many considered extremely rightist, dared to make these steps, and this is his most important deed.”
