Speaking on Tuesday at the presentation of the report of the Gorbachev fund “Perestroika: 20 years since”, he said: “People in the new countries that have formed after the break up of the USSR must gain strength and experience in governing their countries, must feel masters“. He said the form of a union state was presently acceptable. Gorbachev said, “I am for the union of four countries that have the population of 220 million and in which 80 percent of the economic potential of the USSR is concentrated”. He thinks that should integration work on the scale of the four countries, it would play an important role in stabilizing the situation in the post-Soviet expanse.

Regarding the activity of the present Commonwealth of Indepen

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dent States, Gorbachev said with regret that the aims proclaimed at its formation had not been achieved. He believes the plan to create the CIS was conceived “to distract the attention of society from a really effective union treaty”.

MOSCOW, March 1 (Itar-Tass)