Boris Yeltsin quotes - page 2

Boris Yeltsin was a Russian politician who served as the first President of the Russian Federation. His leadership marked a turbulent period of political and economic reform following the collapse of the Soviet Union. He played a key role in shaping modern Russia and transitioning the country to a market economy. Here are 60 of his quotes:

Thousands of mercenaries, who have trained in camps on the territory of Chechnya as well as come in from abroad, are actually preparing to impose extremist ideas on the whole world. (Boris Yeltsin)
We all have an equal interest in stability and security throughout Europe. The years the OSCE has existed, and particularly this year, have given rise to great expectations and at the same time to powerful disappointments. View quote
Boris Yeltsin
You have no right to criticise Russia over Chechnya. View quote
Boris Yeltsin
We want peace and a political solution to the situation in Chechnya. View quote
Boris Yeltsin
Russia also declared its independence. This was approved by the Supreme Soviet, and you know and remember that there was the Declaration on the Independence of Russia. View quote
Boris Yeltsin
I refer to calls for humanitarian intervention in the affairs of another state - a new idea, this - even when they are made under the pretext of defending human rights and freedoms. View quote
Boris Yeltsin
But I don't believe in a civil war. No matter how agitated the atmosphere gets and no matter how hard the president and his advisers try to aggravate the situation, I am absolutely confident of the people's common sense. View quote
Boris Yeltsin
History demonstrates that it is a dangerous delusion to suppose that the destinies of continents and of the world community in general can somehow be managed from one single capital. View quote
Boris Yeltsin
Perhaps, for the first time ever there is now a real chance to put an end to despotism and to dismantle the totalitarian order, whatever shape it may take. I trust that after all the unthinkable tragedies and tremendous losses that it has suffered, mankind will reject this legacy. It will not allow the 21st century to bring new suffering and deprivations to our children and grandchildren. View quote
Boris Yeltsin
Despite all the difficulties and severe trials being experienced by the people, the democratic process in the country is acquiring an increasingly broad sweep and an irreversible character. The peoples of Russia are becoming masters of their destiny. View quote
Boris Yeltsin
The most important thing is that Milosevic agreed to sit at the negotiating table with the Kosovo Albanians. (Boris Yeltsin)
Dissidents should be paid 13 months' salary for a year, otherwise our mindless unanimity will bring us to an even more hopeless state of stagnation. It is especially important to encourage unorthodox thinking when the situation is critical: At such moments every new word and fresh thought is more precious than gold. Indeed, people must not be deprived of the right to think their own thoughts. View quote
Boris Yeltsin
While maintaining our nuclear potential at the proper level, we need to devote more attention to developing the entire range of means of information warfare. View quote
Boris Yeltsin
There is a U.S. press campaign suggesting that people should not be afraid of the communists; that they are good, honorable and kind people. I warn people not to believe this. More than half of them are fanatics; they would destroy everything. It would mean civil war. They would abolish the boundaries between the republics (of the former Soviet Union). They want to take back Crimea; they even make claims against Alaska. View quote
Boris Yeltsin
I am convinced that the moment is coming when, with its message of eternal, universal values, it will come to the aid of our society. For in these words: "Thou shalt not kill; Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself," lie those very moral principles that will enable us to survive even the most critical situations. View quote
Boris Yeltsin
I will not step down, I will not resign, ... I will work to the end of my term in office under the constitution. In the year 2000, there will be presidential elections under the constitution and I will not run in those elections. View quote
Boris Yeltsin
A government is not an old pair of socks that you throw away. View quote
Boris Yeltsin
Today I am turning to you for the last time with New Year's greetings. But that's not all. Today I am turning to you for the last time as president of Russia. View quote
Boris Yeltsin
It looks as if some people either have a short memory and are forgetting about that time and the events that occurred then. View quote
Boris Yeltsin
Russia must enter the new millennium with new politicians, with new faces, with new, smart, strong, energetic people. And we who have been in power for many years already, we must go. View quote
Boris Yeltsin
Today, on this day that is so extraordinarily important for me, I want to say just a few more personal words than usual. I want to ask for your forgiveness. For the fact that many of the dreams we shared did not come true. And for the fact that what seemed simple to us turned out to be tormentingly difficult. (Boris Yeltsin)
None of these countries had revolutions with bloody casualties and there was no civil war in any of the republics... Russia had to change and it did change. View quote
Boris Yeltsin
I am convinced that the moment is coming when, with its message of eternal, universal values, it will come to the aid of our society. View quote
Boris Yeltsin
I am leaving. I did all I could. View quote
Boris Yeltsin
Liberty sets the mind free, fosters independence and unorthodox thinking and ideas. But it does not offer instant prosperity or happiness and wealth to everyone. This is something that politicians in particular must keep in mind. View quote
Boris Yeltsin

Boris Yeltsin

Boris Yeltsin - Image
Photo: Presidential Press and Information Office, CC BY 4.0
Occupation: Soviet Statesman
Born: February 1, 1931
Died: April 23, 2007
Quotes count: 60
Wikipedia: Boris Yeltsin

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