ISTANBUL – Many world leaders have offered their condolences on the passing of former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev, who was given the Nobel Peace Prize in 1990 for his important role in bringing the Cold War to an end.
Gorbachev passed away on Tuesday after a protracted illness. He was 91.
The former Communist Party secretary general implemented economic and political reforms in Russian society, which opponents argue contributed to the disintegration of the Soviet Union.
While Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed his “deep condolences” over Gorbachev’s death, US Vice President Joe Biden praised his efforts to end the Cold War.
“Few high-ranking Soviet leaders dared to admit that things needed to change. As a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, I witnessed him doing all of this and more,” He stated this in a statement. “Even years after leaving office, he remained passionately involved.”
According to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Gorbachev’s “historic reforms” contributed to the breakup of the Soviet Union, aided in the end of the Cold War, and opened the door to the “possibility of a collaboration between Russia and NATO.”
“His vision of a better world continues to serve as an example,” he continued.
The death of Gorbachev upset UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, who described him as a “one-of-a-kind statesman who changed the course of history.”
Gorbachev was described as a “trusted and respected leader” by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
“He was instrumental in bringing the Cold War to a conclusion and bringing down the Iron Curtain. It laid the groundwork for a free Europe. This is a legacy we will never forget,” She tweeted about it.
Boris Johnson, the British Prime Minister, said he has always respected the “courage and integrity he shown in bringing the Cold War to a peaceful close.”
“In the midst of Putin’s aggressiveness in Ukraine, his unwavering commitment to opening up Soviet society serves as an example to us all,” Johnson tweeted.
“We will not forget that perestroika made it possible to seek to develop democracy in Russia and that democracy and freedom became conceivable in Europe, that Germany could be unified, that the Iron Curtain dissolved,” German President Olaf Sholz remarked.
“He was a bold reformer and politician who dared to do many things,” Sholz remarked.
In a tweet, French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his sympathies, describing the former Soviet leader as “a man of peace whose choices opened up a road of liberation for Russians.”
“His devotion to European peace transformed our shared history,” he said.
Gorbachev was described as “one of the twentieth century’s most outstanding figures” by Israeli President Isaac Herzog.
“He was a courageous and visionary leader who transformed our world in previously imagined ways. I was honored to meet him during his visit to Israel in 1992 “He stated.
Josep Borell, the EU’s foreign policy chief, stated that Gorbachev “gave a wind of liberation to the Soviet block with Glasnost and Perestroika.”
“He was instrumental in bringing the Cold War to an end and significantly altering global security, ushering in an age of mutually beneficial collaboration. An era that has passed but is desperately needed again, “He continued.
Source: Anadolu
