Morrison
Main goal: (Asked about his main goal) "We want to participate in the government as a strong parliamentary group to gain the opportunity to implement our program--this means to implement another form of reforms of the economy and of the state. We want neither the form of the CIS nor that of the former Soviet Union, but the rebirth of a strong, rich, cultural, and democratic Russian state within the borders of the former Soviet Union." (Vienna Die Presse, 15 Dec 93, p. 3, in Foreign Broadcast Information Service, Central Eurasia Daily Report (FBIS-SOV)-93-239), 15 Dec 93, pp. 19-20)
Claim to be centrists: ". . . we too are neither rightists nor leftists, but only centrists. We are to the right of center. It could be said that we are slightly to the right of center by some 20 percent. . . ." (London Kanal-6 Television, 10 Jan 94, in Foreign Broadcast Information Service, West Europe Daily Report (FBIS-WEU)-94-007, 11 Jan 94, p. 59)
Claim not to be fascists/Communists: ". . . our party has no relation to fascism or communism. We are a moderate centrist party with a liberal-democratic program. . . ." (Sofia Otechestven Vestnik, 27 Dec 93, pp. 1,2, in Foreign Broadcast Information Service, East Europe Daily Report (FBIS-EEU)-94-001, 3 Jan 94, pp. 6-7)
Party size and funding: "We are not a small party. We are even the largest party in the country, with hundreds of basic level organizations, hundreds of thousands of members, and millions of supporters. Our party's funds amount to over a billion rubles, and they come from contributions made by ordinary people, people who are anything but rich. Every day we receive small contributions of 5,000, 10,000, and 50,000 rubles. You can check that at the main post office. . . . Not one ruble has come from hands that are dirty. In the 1991 presidential elections, 6,211,000 people cast votes for me. If each one of them only contributed 200 rubles, the cost of half a packet of cigarettes, we would immediately have 1.2 billion rubles in our party's coffers. Who does not gladly make that kind of sacrifice for a party leader that he loves? . . . We received neither money or any other kind of assistance from abroad. Saddam Husayn did once invite me to visit him. If the Israelis had done that, I would have gone there too. I have feelings neither of antipathy nor fondness toward any foreign statesman." (Hamburg Der Spiegel, 20 Dec 93, pp. 116-117 and pp. 119-120, in FBIS-WEU-93-242, 20 Dec 93, pp. 21-24)
No paramilitary or violence: (asked if there are armed men in his party) "No, not one--nothing near it. There is not one. I do not even have a penknife. . . ." (and asked if the party will use only constitutional means) "That only. Heaven forbid. We have never organized violent action. In Moscow and in all of Russia, our party held the most peaceful rallies. . . . There has never been violence--not a bit . . . never a single scuffle . . . the most peaceful party members; the most peaceful groups of deputies in the regional bodies and at the national level. . . ." (Budapest MTV Television Network, 7 Jan 94, in FBIS-SOV-94-006, 10 Jan 94, pp. 11-15.) One reporter who visited the party headquarters observed short-haired young men in camouflage uniforms, one of whom said they carried only batons and not firearms. (Reported in Budapest Beszelo, 16 Dec 93, pp. 19-21, in FBIS-SOV-93-243, 21 Dec 93, pp. 6-8)
Guards who handle weapons: (Asked about his guards--one report mentioned two guards dressed in Army pea coats at his headquarters) "O-o-oh! Twenty counterintelligence officers who have been through Afghanistan, Abkhazia, and the Dneister region. Excellent guys; they handle all types of weapons. Half the people in my office are guards. Even at night I have a guard by me. If necessary, they will blow up this entire building." (The interviewer added that, according to Aleksandr Vengerovskiy, who is described as in charge of the LDPR's secret service and in the process of drawing up a project for a 'Russian Intelligence Service,' these men serving as Zhirinovskiy's personal bodyguards once guarded Brezhnev.) (Moscow Komsomolskaya Pravda, 22 Jan 94, p. 2, in FBIS-SOV-94-015, 24 Jan 94, pp. 33-35)
Claim 70%: ". . . we achieved a national average of 70 percent of all votes. An attempt is now being made to manipulate the figures so that they appear to be lower." (Hamburg Der Spiegel, 20 Dec 93)
Claim elections rigged: Zhirinovskiy claimed that the outcome of the general elections in Russia was "rigged" and the Liberal Democratic Party garnered "more than 50 percent of the votes" but official results gave his party only about one-half this. (Paris AFP, 21 December 93, in FBIS-WEU-93-244, 22 Dec 93, p. 5)
Working with other parties: "The other side constantly sought to provoke tension and threatened to exclude us from the elections, to reduce our television air time. It was in the government's hands. That is why there was a tougher approach. Following our victory, we can adopt a somewhat more relaxed approach. . . . (election campaign tirades against internal and external enemies) They were meant seriously, very seriously. The joy of victory has only mellowed me somewhat. . . ." (Hamburg Der Spiegel, 20 Dec 93)
Constitution: (Zhirinovskiy, who helped in drafting the new constitution, appears not to have joined others in suggesting that it be revised, but the Liberal Democratic Party's Deputy Chairman, Aleksandr Vengerovskiy, has suggested redrawing the constitution. Vengerovskiy, speaking of the power of the Russian president under the new constitution, has said: ". . . a little more than half the electorate voted, and only half of them accepted it; therefore, only a quarter of the Russian people agree with it. However, we will not put up with this. We will start to implement our basic three program points immediately. Urgently launching the reform course is one of these, and redrawing the Constitution is another. . . . Foreign policy is the third area. . . ." (Budapest Beszelo, 16 Dec 93)
Yeltsin patriotic: "Yeltsin is making mistakes, but he is not destroying the country. He is wrong on some issues, but deep in his heart he stands on a patriotic platform." (Munich Deutsche National-Zeitung, 17 Dec 93, pp. 3-5, in FBIS-SOV-93-241, 17 Dec 93, pp. 13-14)
Yeltsin approval: "I can sense that the president (Yeltsin) likes me as an individual and our party as a whole." (Moscow Russian Television Network, 14 Dec 93, in FBIS-SOV-93-239, 15 Dec 93, p. 18)
Sympathy from and toward Yeltsin: "I feel the president's sympathetic attitude toward us. We have taken a centrist line. We are ready both to form our own new government and to join a coalition, but if the president does not invite us, we will not be upset. Likewise, we are ready to contest the June presidential elections, but if they are not called, we will not open confrontation." (Moscow Segodnya, 15 Dec 93, p. 1, in FBIS-SOV-93-239, 15 Dec 93, p. 19)
Sympathy toward Yeltsin: ". . . If there are presidential elections, I will definitely take part in them. However, I am not desperate to inflict a crushing defeat on Boris Yeltsin. He did what he was able to do. All the mistakes are the fault of his team." (Hamburg Der Spiegel, 20 Dec 93)
Relations with Yeltsin: (Asked about status of relations with Yeltsin) "Good. We meet from time to time. He likes volleyball, and so do I. He is a good man, and he gives me no trouble." (Interview by Fulvio Scaglione in Moscow, date not given, "Hands Off Russia," Milan Famiglia Cristiana, 9 Feb 94, pp. 44-45, in FBIS-SOV-94-023, 3 Feb 94, pp. 16-17)
Positions in government: "The president should give us a few ministerial posts. . . . The most important ones of course: defense, state security, the police, and foreign affairs. . . . Of course, the Yeltsin team will defend their sinecures with every last drop of strength they have. If he hands over those ministries, then his team will immediately disappear from the political stage. An attempt might be made to fob us off with unimportant ministries: social policy, labor, agriculture, and the arts. . . . We would find them acceptable, and we will participate in the government in what form we are offered. If Yeltsin's people try using delaying tactics, they will achieve a breathing space of a few months at the very most. We will occupy all the key positions in the Russian Government by spring at the very latest. . . . (if no places in the cabinet) Then we will assume the role of constructive opposition that will expose the mistakes made by the government, but will not provide a pretext for dissolving parliament. We do not want any more crises." (Hamburg Der Spiegel, 20 Dec 93)
Coalition with whom: (Asked about coalitions) "With the women's movement. It is the most neutral political force and would not be an obstacle for us. The others will see how they will get on with us. . . . (Asked about working with the Communists) "Boris Yeltsin would not like that. Why should we pick a fight with the President, when we ourselves have nothing in common with the Communists. We are opposed to the Communists, just as we are opposed to the government's 'Russia's Choice' block. However, we would have nothing against their participation in a coalition government. They could receive two or three minor ministries at the very most." (Hamburg Der Spiegel, 20 Dec 93)
Reconciliation/work with all: "The party's position is reconciliation. The LDPR is ready to cooperate with all but will not join blocs or agreements with anybody. . . . (he indicated the LDPR supports the new constitution in every way, regarding it "good for 90 per cent" and saying the party plans to strive for creating "a strong parliament along with the strong president"). (Moscow ITAR-TASS, 10 Jan 94, in FBIS-SOV-94-006, 10 Jan 94, pp. 26)
Strong president: "If I want to be objective, I must say that parliamentary democracy is superior to the presidential power. . . . This would be the ideal situation, but concretely in Russia, we need a strong presidential power and a strong president." (Budapest Pesti Hirlap, 14 Dec 93, pp. 1-2, in FBIS-SOV-93-239, 15 Dec 93, pp. 22-23)
Dictatorship and shootings: "I say it quite plainly: When I come to power, there will be a dictatorship. I will beat the Americans in space. I will surround the planet with our space stations so that they'll be scared of our space weapons. I don't care if they call me a fascist or a Nazi. There's nothing like fear to make people work better. The stick, not the carrot. Those who have to be arrested will be arrested quietly at night. I may have to shoot 100,000 people, but the other 300 million will live peacefully." (Remarks reportedly made in late 1991 at the Kremlin, reported by the Associated Press in The Washington Times, 15 Dec 93, p. A12)
Democracy not now: "As a lawyer and expert on human rights, I am an advocate of democracy, but I do not think democracy is the right medicine for the state's diseased organism. The only panacea is strong authority. Only after the organism of the state has recovered from the crisis and the economy has healed will it be possible to switch over to a democratic system. . . . The disease of destruction is very far advanced in Russia, and the economic crisis has assumed a particularly acute form. That is why it is essential to apply drastic measures. Only through fear can one enforce an end to the civil war, stop the disintegration of the army, and stem the tide of emigres. . . . (Russians) have never lived under democracy! By voting for me, they have opted for democracy and entrusted me with it. Democracy is in the right hands now. . . . The shift to democracy must be suitably prepared. Democracy needs an economic base, political parties need varied social strata, and the Army needs an objective and specific conditions. What is needed today, however, is a freeze, a political diet. . . . We need a strong authority." (Poznan WPROST, 2 Jan 94, pp. 47-48, in FBIS-SOV-94-007, 11 Jan 94, pp. 19-20)
Ban parties, strikes, unions for 2-3 years: "I would only ban all the parties in the country, all strikes, and all trade unions for two to three years until peace and order prevail everywhere and national conflicts are resolved." (Berlin ADN, 13 Dec 93, in FBIS-SOV-93-238, 14 Dec 93, p. 34)
(If presidential elections were held in June 1994) "I will certainly take part in them . . . If, however, presidential elections are not held until 1996, then my election to that position would be a nice present for my 50th birthday." (Moscow Interfax, 14 Dec 93, in FBIS-SOV-93-239, 15 Dec 93, p. 18)
". . . I have no doubt that I will win the next presidential election. Neither the so-called democratic camp nor the communists will stand a chance. That is a pity, because I am accustomed to a sharp struggle. I am sad that the victory will be so easy." (Poznan WPROST, 2 Jan 94)
Three tasks: "As prime minister I would make three basic decisions--an end to all financial help for foreign countries, an end to the conversion of the weapons industry to civilian production, and a sharp struggle against crime." (Ibid.)
Minimum program: ". . . Russia's economy can be restored in a very short time. Russia possesses rich resources. . . . We have arrived at economic disaster and the impoverishment of the people because of the squandering of Russia's wealth, because of our wide open borders. . . . We need to begin with state borders, by establishing a strict customs regime, by stopping the export from the country of resources we need ourselves. A minimum program is needed. 1. All aid to foreign countries, nearby or further afield, should be stopped. . . . 2. The conversion of military industry should be suspended. We must continue to produce military products and sell them on the world market, from which the United States ousted us by deceit. . . . 3 . . . put an end to organized crime. . . . The right to trade must be granted only to people having Russian citizenship. . . . " (Moscow Krasnaya Zvezda, 10 Dec 93, p. 2, in FBIS-SOV-93-237, 13 Dec 93, pp. 13-14)
Saving money by stopping aid to neighbors: ". . . I will demand that aid to neighboring countries be immediately stopped. That will raise our standard of living by 30 percent straightaway. Then a severe blow will be delivered against crime, a blow organized by officers from the ministries of defense, security, and internal affairs. That will also bring a significant increase in the standard of living." (Hamburg Der Spiegel, 20 Dec 93)
Economic program: "The people are tired . . . we promise an improvement in the standard of living by about mid-1994--that is, in about half a year--if we can work because we get the necessary number of deputies. This is to be achieved, first, by reducing subsidies. This yields an additional 30 percent of revenues for the state. Second, the destruction of the military-industrial complex is to be stopped. Destroying it is more expensive than continuing production. This yields another 30 percent in additional revenues. Third, the struggle against organized crime must be intensified. If we are able to serve a decisive blow to the 5,000 organized gangs in Russia, we get another 30 percent of revenues from their assets. In this way we can improve our financial situation by 100 percent within a short time. . . . We must shape foreign policy . . . so that we get the corresponding economic benefit from it. We must reestablish relations with the Balkan states and improve relations with the states in Eastern Europe, with Iraq, and with India. We must make sure that we get our debts repaid: We have debts of $70 billion, and others owe us $100 billion. This is $30 billion in our favor. If we get those and improve the relations with our immediate neighbors, this has a further effect on our economic situation." (Vienna Die Presse, 15 Dec 93)
Mixed economy and anti-crime program: "We will pursue a mixture of . . . planned economy and moderate market economy . . . we will stop inflation. . . . Within three months I will destroy the several hundred mafia gangs . . . and every kind of serious criminals . . . with the entire rigor of the law and a police force that is free of any corruption. Law and order must be restored. I guarantee it. And the Russians know that." (Munich Deutsche National-Zeitung, 11 Feb 94, pp. 3-5, in FBIS-SOV-94-031, 15 Feb 94, pp. 12-14)
Crime and Mafia: ". . . The entire Mafia from the southern regions must be wiped out: A terrible blow has to be delivered against crime. . . ." (Hamburg Der Spiegel, 20 Dec 93)
Security: ". . . After six months, not only would people's standards of living increase, but also their security. I would also bring more militiamen and soldiers out onto the streets." (Poznan WPROST, 2 Jan 94)
Defense industry: "Conversion to civilian purposes must be stopped immediately. We should finally start building submarines again. Export earnings for each submarine amount to $200 million. . . ." (Hamburg Der Spiegel, 20 Dec 93)
Provinces and tasks for the center: ". . . In the future, Russia should just have provinces, 40 or 50 self-governing units. We have to get rid of terms such as republics and autonomous regions. The central government, on the other hand, should concentrate on just seven [sic] tasks: foreign policy, defense, finances, transportation, energy, and the environment." (Hamburg Der Spiegel, 20 Dec 93)
Mixed economy: ". . . we support a mixed economy without destroying the state sector in the towns and in the countryside, and we are opposed to dismantling the collective farms. . . ." (Hamburg Der Spiegel, 20 Dec 93)
Promising vacations: ". . . The citizens of Russia will be able to breathe a sigh of relief. They will be able to afford a vacation once again--in the Crimea, on the Baltic, on Cuba, and in Bulgaria. Then after their vacation, they will say in the fall: We made the right choice in December 1993--the Liberal Democratic Party." (Hamburg Der Spiegel, 20 Dec 93)
Military and colonies: ". . . The most important thing today is our weapons--the army and the navy. This is mighty power! The best borders are maritime. Britain is a maritime power and the best borders are sea borders! Mongolia--no sea borders--a miserable third-rate state! Today we have no colonies; meanwhile colonies provided the lion's share of revenues for Britain, for instance. At present we are not only getting anything (nothing?) from the colonies but ourselves are feeding these impoverished appendices. And we would be well advised to think about colonies." (Moscow Kuranty, 16 Dec 93, p. 4, in FBIS-SOV-93-240, 16 Dec 93, pp. 16-17)
"For Russia, for all Russians": ". . . a new state system, a new economic policy, a new foreign policy--all this is to bring about better life. All this we want to implement under the slogan 'For Russia, for all Russians.' No Russian blood is to be spilt in nationality conflicts anymore. . . ." (Vienna Die Presse, 15 Dec 93)
Russian greatness: ". . . Russians and Germans are the greatest European peoples, and Russia is the world's greatest state." (Munich Deutsche National-Zeitung, 14 Jan 94, pp. 3-4, in FBIS-SOV-94-011, 18 Jan 94, pp. 37-39)
Russia not a satellite of the West: ". . . we and our real friends want Russia to remain Russia and be a strong Russian Russia, not a satellite of the West." (Munich Deutsche National-Zeitung, 17 Dec 93)
Models to emulate: "Personalities from Russia's great past--Piotr Stolypin, Alexander II, the military commanders Suvorov, Kornilov, Zhukov. There are their portraits; they were real Russian patriots. That was how big Russia was 120 years ago (he points to the emblem of his party, which shows the Czarist empire including Alaska.)" (Hamburg Der Spiegel, 20 Dec 93, op. cit.) And ". . . My model is Bismarck. His great social laws on the one hand, and his ingenious foreign policy on the other, have made the creator of the small German empire immortal. . . ." (Munich Deutsche National-Zeitung, 14 Jan 94)
Russia in USSR borders: "The LDPR advocates the recreation of the Russian state within the borders of the former USSR. We are against the CIS as it now exists--it is an artificial formation that breaks ties between people and production lines and destroys the single economic area of the great power which formed in the course of centuries--Russia . . . it is necessary to reject national divisions and restore the old, prerevolutionary territorial administrative divisions. . . . Russia is a fatherland for all. . . . All peoples--great and small--are equal before the law, each possesses the right to maintain their traditions and customs and develop their national culture and the right to freedom of conscience. Naturally, the Russian people, the most numerous in our country, who possess a high culture and who made great sacrifices in the process of forming and maintaining the Russian empire, play the role of guarantor of the country's prosperity and integrity. There will be no need . . . to resort to violence in order to reunite Russia's lands. . . . Inhabitants of the 'nearby foreign parts' have been deprived of their accustomed selfless aid from the Russian Federation . . . they will ask of their own accord to be restored to the body of the Russian state." (Moscow Krasnaya Zvezda, 10 Dec 93)
Republics made to come back: "Our republics must be made to come back. How? By not being kind toward them. . . . We are buying third-rate cotton from Uzbekistan at world prices! And the way to act here is this: Two Zhiguli cars for your garbage cotton and that is it! They will starve? Let them. Tribal societies should starve. And why ever should they be living at the expense of the civilized Russian nation?! Estonians . . . a nation of 900,000--and all are stealing! A nation of thieves! Politics is the art of deception, and one should not be embarrassed by this. As long as we are kindly and decent looking in the eyes of the "world community," our people will go about hungry and wretched. . . ." (Moscow Kuranty, 16 Dec 93)
Former republics return to Russia: The former Soviet republics "will crawl on their knees begging to be admitted to Russia. We will not take them all back at once but will listen to what the world community says." This will happen "when the republics see for themselves that they are incapable of self-rule and cannot offer people anything but chaos and war." (Moscow Interfax, 14 Dec 93)
Reestablishing borders of Russia: "The reestablishment of the borders is to take place peacefully. Already today, Tajikistan, the Caucasus, and others are willing to return to us. And I think the events in Moldova, in the Baltic states, in Ukraine, and in Belarus contribute to making the majority of their people willing to return to Russia--not as republics in a federation, but in the form of governments (as during the time of the tsar--the editor). The CIS is nothing else but a weak variety of the Soviet Union, in which the center must keep the periphery. If Georgia is in danger, Moscow must one again rescue it, and, in return, Russian soldiers are killed from Georgia to Tajikistan and the members of the Russian minorities are humiliated. Therefore, they all want to get away from there--not only Russians, but also Ukrainians and others, who live as minorities there. Therefore, we--in contrast to other parties--see the solution only in a strong Russian state." (Vienna Die Presse, 15 Dec 93)
USSR borders for Russia: ". . . We think that, in the long run, Russia's borders could be the borders of the former USSR, but this could happen only if the relevant territories, which today are viewed as independent, want this." (Sofia Otechestven Vestnik, 27 Dec 93, pp. 1,2, in FBIS-EEU-94-001, 3 Jan 94, pp. 6-7.) [Similar words plus the following sentences were reported by Sofia BTA]. "If they do, they may approach Russia's new political leadership to get incorporated into Russia's borders. It won't happen unless they want it." (Sofia BTA, 26 Dec 93, in FBIS-EEU-93-246, 27 Dec 93, pp. 7-8.) And again: "We will not object if the currently independent areas--the former Soviet republics--ask to be allowed back to the fold. We will examine the question of readmitting them, and then the borders of the former Soviet Union will gradually become the borders of Russia." (Budapest MTV Television Network, 7 Jan 94)
USSR/Russia/Borders/Military Forces/Nuclear Weapons: "The state should not have been allowed to disintegrate! The Soviet Union might still exist today; one should have provided greater independence and divided the country into provinces. Such a variant should also have been suggested to the Asian and Caucasian regions, plus Belarus, Ukraine, and the Baltic countries. Then they would have realized the advantages to be gained from living within one large state in which all the principles of freedom--cultural and economic freedom--are respected. Look what is happening right now. Entire settlements are burning, towns are being bombed, people are perishing. . . . (asked if the return of the USSR is still possible) Yes, in a territorial sense. But the law, ideology, and government will be different. The territory of the former USSR could become the territory of a reborn Russia. That will only be possible when a new democratically oriented authority appears in the Kremlin, one that will work out a model of a strong state. A reborn and strengthened army is required for this purpose, together with a nuclear potential that must be improved so that our possible adversaries know that we are prepared to use it. Therefore we will develop our nuclear weapons, create a base in space, and from there we will defend Russia if the need arises. The ideal scenario calls for the existence of a Russo-Swedish and Russo-German border, and a border with China and India in the south." (Poznan WPROST, 2 Jan 94)
Expansion: "No expansion. On the contrary, we now have a situation where, for instance, Tajikistan and some Transcaucasian republics want to be with Russia once again. But I for one, together with my party, do not want this. We want the opposite . . . these countries should develop on their own as independent states, but I also say they will never be like independent states, because they joined Russia 200 years ago. This was always the tragedy of these peoples. . . . I favor the pullout of all Russian troops back to Russia, to Moscow. You will see . . . that a terrible war will start there between Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Iran. . . . This is not a state, this is not civilization. This is already a part of the third world war . . . a situation of civil war within their country, or in a state of war with other states: Armenia and Azerbaijan, Abkhazia and Georgia, Tajikistan and Afghanistan. This is already part of the world war because it is a vast territory from India to Athens, to Serbia. It is larger than Europe during World War II. . . . I want to see our state within its historical borders, but not through violent means, only through economic means, through civilization, culture, law. For instance, if one day they want to return, if they call on us, and if you in the West . . . say we too will help these people to live . . . then perhaps can we take positive steps. However, now, we do not want them to come back within Russia, all the peoples from the south, from Tajikistan to Chisinau. . . . (asked if this includes the Baltic states) Yes, the Baltic states too, but I say we must have economic relations. This does not mean constant aid for the Baltic states. If we stop selling our energy and mineral resources cheaply to the Baltic states, contrary to what we are doing now, their existence as independent states is over. . . . If I lead the Russian Government, we will immediately stop all economic aid to the Baltic states and to any other country. Trade yes, but pay, pay: Pay with hard currencies and no more economic aid. After that, the existence of the Baltic states as independent states is over." (Paris TF-1 Television Network, 3 Jan 94, in FBIS-SOV-94-002, 4 Jan 94, pp. 4-5)
Oppose USSR/CIS: "We are against preserving the CIS, just as we are against recreating the USSR. If anybody wants to join Russia, they are welcome, only with the rights of a territorial unit: a province or oblast. No national-state formations." (Moscow Komsomolskaya Pravda, 22 Jan 94)
No national republics: ". . . we are against having national republics on Russian territory. There are to be no Tatarstan, Yakutsia, Bashkiria, or no North Caucasian Republics. Instead, 40 to 50 governments are to be established. As long as we do not have governments, there will always be conflicts and clashes, which for their part lead to resistance civil-war-like situations, and mass flight." (Vienna Die Presse, 15 Dec 93)
Defense of Russia and Russians: (Speaking of the 1991 presidential elections) "I was the first politician who said he would defend Russians. I got six million votes just for saying that." (Michael Dobbs, The Washington Post, 15 Dec 93, p. A23)
Protect Russians: ". . . We want to protect all Russians and have secure borders." (Hamburg Der Spiegel, 20 Dec 93)
Crimean Russians: "Remember that the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia will stand up for your rights together with the Russian Party of the Crimea. We will protect Russian people wherever they are." (Moscow Interfax, 10 Jan 94, in FBIS-SOV-94-007, 11 Jan 94, p. 15)
Russian nationalism/motherland: ". . . Now, in the former USSR and the former republics, nationalism is the main ideological weapon, and in certain regions anti-Russian emotions intensified. We say that various nations should not be opposed to each other, because we are against every discrimination. Nevertheless, they try to slander us and say that we support Russian nationalism. We say that Russia is the motherland for all and that we oppose the idea of restoring the USSR and CIS. We support the existence of a Russian state, a great Russia, but as a motherland for all nations that live on its territory. It is their common motherland as a geographical entity. And what are they trying to do? They try to prove with their tales that we are Russian nationalists, that we want a pure Russian state, and so on. We do not want this. . . ." (Sofia Otechestven Vestnik, 27 Dec 93, pp. 1,2, in FBIS-EEU-94-001, 3 Jan 94, pp. 6-7)
Don't want former republics in Russia: "Ex-Soviet Union republics, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, or Middle East, Central Asian republics--they want to be included to (sic) Russia. We don't want, because no profit to be together." (Vienna Oesterreich Eins Radio Network, 22 Dec 93, in FBIS-WEU-93-244, 22 Dec 93, p.6) According to another report, Zhirinovskiy, noting that many former republics, especially Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan, are interested in joining Russia, stated that "we do not want that as there are big differences between us and those republics in the way of politics, economics, and culture. The program of our party does not envisage the former Soviet republics joining Russia." (Moscow ITAR-TASS World Service, 22 Dec 93, in FBIS-SOV-93-245, 23 Dec 93, pp. 7-8)
Georgia: "Two hundred years ago Georgia became part of Russia forever as Tiflis Province and had no right to secede. For us Georgia is a state that does not exist. . . . " (Georgia should be allowed to exist on its own) ". . . without Russian subsidies, without our assistance. Let Turkish troops come and show them what Turkish democracy means if they don't want Russian democracy." (Moscow Interfax, 4 Feb 94, in FBIS-SOV-94-025, 7 Feb 94, pp. 15-16)
Common Russian-Turkish border: "It is better for Russia that there should be a common border between Russia and Turkey, without the Caucasus, Armenia, Georgia, and Azerbaijan. Only Turkey and Russia. That will be sufficient." (London Kanal-6 Television, 10 Jan 94)
Opening for Turkey in Central Asia: "The Turkish culture could grow like a flower in the Tashkent region, because that is exactly the place for you. Below that are the Persian-speaking Afghanistan and Tajikistan, and to the north is Russia. But the Tashkent-Ashgabat region is your motherland. You have the Motherland Party, and your motherland lies between Tashkent and Ashgabat. One day in the past, your Ottoman Turkish armies marched into the Byzantine lands from this very region between Tashkent and Ashgabat." (London Kanal-6 Television, 10 Jan 94)
Ukraine and Kazakhstan as Provinces of Russia: "Ukraine has not been, and will not be independent. It will be one of our provinces. The same applies to Kazakhstan, which will become a province within southern Siberia." (Bucharest Romania Libera, 14 Dec 93, p. 1, in FBIS-SOV-93-240, 16 Dec 93, p. 17)
Getting Ukraine to kneel: "It's all very easy. We cease supplying timber to Ukraine, and all the mines of its major coal region of Donbass will collapse. . . . And in three months, Ukraine will kneel." (Interview with Izvestiya, early Dec 93, in The Wall Street Journal, 15 Dec 93, p. A10)
Moldova as a Province of Russia: "Moldova will become a province of the Russian Federation, with the capital city at Tiraspol . . . " (Bucharest Romania Libera, 14 Dec 93)
Strong Russia, but no conflicts: ". . . When I advocate a large and strong Russia, I do not want to build up any conflict with Washington. But having several great powers, to which Russia and others belong, in addition to Germany and the United States, is better for the world than a single globocop, to whose tune the world dances. Equal rights in the family of peoples and states is the key to real partnership. I abhor war and any kind of military conflict, but I am for the peoples' right to self-determination. . . ." (Munich Deutsche National-Zeitung, 11 Feb 94)
No threat from Russia: "The world does not need to fear us anymore. No one will be exposed to any kind of danger from Russian soil ever again: There will be no claims on territory, no military missions, and complete adherence to international treaties. Russia will be a civilized European country, open to the rest of the world, without prison camps, without repression, without Stalinism, and--God save us--without fascism. There will only be democracy." (Hamburg Der Spiegel, 20 Dec 93)
North-South Division of the World: "Why should the United States meddle with European affairs? Let it take care of Latin America; let Europe take care of Africa; let China and Japan to take care of Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand; and let Russia take care of Turkey, Iran, and Afghanistan. This vertical domination will produce a good, warm climate all over the world. We will spend less in transportation, communications. Fewer planes will fly, thus making air and water cleaner, and the environment will be preserved. . . ." (Sao Paulo Veja, 9 Feb 94, pp. 7-9, in FBIS-SOV-94-031, 15 Feb 94, pp. 14-16)
Nuclear blackmail: (Zhirinovskiy is reported to have said the following during the 1991 RSFSR presidential campaign) ". . . I'll move the troops; about 1.5 million strong, into the former (East Germany), rattling my nuclear sabers, and they'll give me everything. . . . What price Paris? How about London? Washington? Los Angeles? How much are you willing to pay so I don't wipe them from the face of the Earth with my SS-18s (missiles). You doubt me? Want to take a chance? Let's get started." (The Washington Times, 14 Dec 93, p. A14)
U.S.: "You Americans must leave the Balkans and the Middle East. . . . If you do not, you will find yourself on a court bench facing another Nuremberg." (quote not further identified, reported in USA Today, 15 Dec 93, p. 8A)
U.S./Alaska: (In a meeting with German right-wing party leader Frey, Zhirinovskiy was shown on television as toasting "To a German Prussia and a Russian Alaska." (Moscow Ostankino Television First Channel Network, 11 Dec 93, in FBIS-SOV-93-237, 13 Dec 93, pp. 15-16)
(Commenting on how the U.S. will soon face the same hardships as the former Soviet Union) "There will be no joy when California joins Mexico, when a negro republic is founded in Miami, when the Russians take back Alaska." (Quoted from Zhirinovskiy's book, Last Dash to the South, in USA Today, 15 Dec 93, p. 8A)
(When an interviewer asked about a map of Alaska mounted on the wall at Zhirinovskiy's party headquarters) "No that is a historical map. That is what Russia was like 120 years ago. We do not want to restore these borders. That was when the Russian empire was flourishing. . . . It is only history. . . ." (Budapest MTV Television Network, 7 Jan 94)
Any Western attackers of Bosnia (presumably Serb elements): "As leader of the main opposition party in Russia, the party that won the elections, I want to warn all governments of Western countries that bombing any towns in Bosnia means declaring war on Russia." The report implied Zhirinovskiy was speaking of Bosnian Serbs, that he called for all foreign forces to withdraw from the former Yugoslavia, and that after such a pullout the Serbs should be left to solve their own problems, but that, if necessary, Russia would be ready to send its army. (Reuters report in Philadelphia Inquirer, 31 Jan 94, p. 8)
Ukraine: ". . . Nothing has to be conquered again. We stop delivering timber to Ukraine and the mines will collapse; if we also stop delivering other goods, within three months Kravchuk will come begging on his knees to be allowed to return. . . ." (Budapest Pesti Hirlap, 14 Dec 93)
The Baltic states: "I love the Balts . . . a nice cultured nation. . . . The Baltics is a region of the highest culture and the broadest cooperation--no soldiers, no shooting, mere economy, culture and festivals. . . . But if they jeer at Russians depriving them of voting rights and steal of Russia what belongs to Russia, then we will be forced to use the means of defense. . . . If you try to deprive Russians of their rights we will answer with such steps that you will have no electors left to stage elections. . . . If you use force to deprive them of voting rights, evict them from apartments, dismiss them from jobs, we will use economic methods only to square all accounts with the Baltics and your countries will collapse in two weeks after I have become the president of Russia. There will be not a single Baltic country if you continue your thievish policies." (Tallinn BNS, 14 Dec 93, in FBIS-SOV-93-239, 15 Dec 93, p. 21)
Estonia: "A nation of 900,000 people, and all of them thieves." He spoke of a need to strengthen the defense of Russian borders "so that nobody can steal anything any more, especially a country like Estonia." (Tallinn BNS, 17 Dec 93, in FBIS-SOV-93-241, 17 Dec 93, pp. 12-13)
Estonia: ". . . If I become president, the Estonians will be satisfied. Those who are not satisfied will leave--for Sweden, Finland . . ." (Moscow Rossiyskiye Vesti, 30 Dec 93, pp. 4-5, in FBIS-SOV-94-001, 3 Jan 94, pp. 32-35)
Baltics and small states: "I'll start by squeezing the Baltics and other small nations. I don't care if they are recognized by the U.N. I'm not going to invade them or anything. I'll bury radioactive waste along the Lithuanian border and put up powerful fans and blow the stuff across the border at night. . . . They'll all get radiation sickness. They'll die of it. When they either die out or get down on their knees, I'll stop it. I'm a dictator. What I'm going to do is bad, but it'll be good for Russia." (remarks reportedly made at a parliamentary session shortly after the August 1991 coup, reported by the Associated Press in The Washington Times, 15 Dec 93, p. A12)
Germany: "If I was sitting in the Kremlin, the Germans would pay for all this meddling. I wouldn't hesitate to use nuclear weapons. We would make new Hiroshimas and Nagasakis." (quote from 1991 reported by Die Welt, as reported by the Associated Press in The Washington Times, 15 Dec 93, p. A12.) This was also reported as: "If a German looks at Russia the wrong way when I'm in the Kremlin . . . we will create new Hiroshimas and Nagasakis. I will not hesitate to deploy atomic weapons." (quote not further identified, reported by Charles Krauthammer in The Washington Post, 17 Dec 93, p. A25)
Threat to destroy Germany for denying visa: Zhirinovskiy reportedly told a German diplomat who informed him of the denial of a visa application that this denial could lead to a "third World War" by which Germany would be "completely destroyed." Claiming to have such good contacts with Russian intelligence that he could make the official simply "disappear," Zhirinovskiy threatened that the diplomat would soon be "liquidated." (Paris AFP, 1 Jan 94, referencing Welt Am Sonntag of 2 Jan 94, in FBIS-WEU-94-001, 3 Jan 94, p. 11)
Germany/France: "History has shown that in Europe, our faithful ally should have been Germany. We could have avoided the two world wars with them. We needed a war against France." (quote not further identified, reported by Associated Press in USA Today, 15 Dec 93)
Central Europe: "The so-called Oder-Neisse line isn't the last word in history." (interview with National Zeitung, reported by Associated Press in The Washington Times, 15 Dec 93, p. A12.) This article also reported that at a 2 Oct 93 meeting of the far-right German People's Union in Bavaria, Zhirinovskiy had said Germany and Russia should divide up territories in Poland, the Baltics, and Ukraine.
Turkey/NATO: ". . . We are only interested in Turkey, Iran, and Afghanistan . . . (asked if he was afraid NATO will stand behind Turkey) ". . . You are mistaken if you believe the Turks are invulnerable because they are members of NATO. NATO is a weak bloc. . . . Who will fight. . . . We, on the other hand, have fought the Turks 30 times and beaten them every time. We have no worthy opponent anywhere in the world. NATO is an insignificant bloc, and it should be eliminated. The same goes for the United Nations. However, Russia is a peaceful country. We will not attack. . . . We prefer to win by economic means instead of military ones. . . . (Sofia 168 CHASA, 28 Feb 94, pp. 1, 21, in FBIS-SOV-94-045, 8 Mar 94, pp. 6-9)
Kuril Islands: "These islands belong to Russia. And the Sea of Okhotsk will be Russia's internal sea. We'll set up a 200-mile zone and not a single foreign fishing boat will ever enter the Sea of Okhotsk and all marine products will reach the Russians' dining tables." (Moscow Interfax, 13 Dec 93, in FBIS-SOV-93-238, 14 Dec 93, p. 33)
Japan/Pacific: (To Japanese journalists) "You'd better not raise the Kuril Islands issue, otherwise we'll bring up the issue of compensation for the 40 years of the illegal use of Sakhalin by Japan. . . . We'll drive everyone out of the Sea of Okhotsk--the Japanese, the Koreans, the Filipinos. . . . The Sea of Okhotsk will be a closed Russian sea. We'll establish a 200-mile zone, and you'll be fishing in Australia." (Moscow Interfax, 6 Jan 94, in FBIS-SOV-94-005, 7 Jan 94, p. 10)
The "Novosti" newscast stated that Zhirinovskiy had said he planned to occupy the post of Foreign Minister and as his first step he intended to invite Tokyo to sign a peace treaty, and if it refused he would use the Russian navy to blockade all Japanese islands. (Moscow Ostankino Television First Channel Network, 6 Jan 94, in FBIS-SOV-94-005, 7 Jan 94, pp. 10-11)
Pakistan: (Asked how he would deal with the problem of prisoners in Pakistan) "I will call the Pakistan envoy and give him 72 hours. If our Russian boys do not arrive at Sheremetyevo airport within the 72 hours, I will send the Pacific fleet to the shores of Pakistan, and it will start by wiping Karachi off the face of the earth." (undated quote contained in article in Rossiyskiye Vesti, 30 Dec 93)
Secret Weapon--Elipton: ". . . This weapon is stronger than nuclear weapons because its consequences are different, and there is no antidote. This is where its strength lies. There is no way of defending against it. It is the same with the sonic weapon. We also have this. What happens is that the cartridge detonates, and the sound is such that it brings down an entire military division. That is it; they are dead. . . . The elipton has the same effect. There is no radiation, no fire. There are no wounds. An entire military division simply dies. It is similar to the neutron weapon, but the latter has radiation. It has a damaging effect. The neutrons enter the human body; those cause the destruction. With the former, there is no damage, but all of life is immediately destroyed . . . (asked if the Americans or others had the weapon) No . . . No one. Russian scientists developed it exclusively. . . . (asked why no one had heard about it) Because it is secret." (Budapest MTV Television Network, 7 Jan 94)
"It is my personal weapon. It completely destroys buildings and people, not by fire, but with a laser beam that destroys all targets. (asked if he could destroy the world with the "Elipton" weapon) "Of course I can, but I do not want to. It is important that we possess such a weapon. If any danger threatens us, in the case of extreme necessity there is nothing strange about us using it in certain regions--for defense." (Sofia 168 CHASA, 28 Feb 94)
(Note: Source of quotes below is an interview with Zhirinovskiy by Rolf Gauffin, date and place not given, published under the title "Prague? Let Us Give It to Germany," in Rome L'Espresso, 21 Jan 94, pp. 76-79, in FBIS-SOV-94-018, 27 Jan 94, pp. 20-21. Quotations in parentheses are from a similar but not identical report of an interview by Gauffin for the Italian Limes magazine published in Berlin Die Welt, 31 Jan 94, p. 3, in FBIS-SOV-94-021, 1 Feb 94, pp. 19-21)
Transcaucasus and Central Asia
"Events in the Transcaucasus show that, without Russia, those peoples will always fight each other. . . . This will happen everywhere along Russia's southern borders . . . there will not be a Russian military presence in these areas. All we can do is sell weapons. If they want to buy them, they can do so only in Russia."
". . . Afghanistan . . . is a country without a government, where one gang fights another, where one city fights another. This is the future of Central Asia. After 30-40 years the . . . entire region will plunge into the abyss. Then Iran and Turkey will intervene. It will be hell. Then, after a further 20-30 years, they will plead with Russia to return to guarantee stability. . . ."
"From Moscow we can force those small nations to stop fighting. Since they are aware of the strength of Russia's industry and Armed Forces, they must stop the destruction. Together with the international community, they will ask us for help. We will examine the possibility of halting the disaster, but only if they pay us. Otherwise, we will leave those regions to slide downhill, as is now happening in the Transcaucasus and Tajikistan. . . . "
("Trans-Caucasus. There we have Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Armenia. One day, they will ask to be permitted to belong to Moscow again. Yet, we do not want these territories. There are only criminals there, no reasonable economy, and no opportunities for profit for Russia. Iran can take over Azerbaijan, while Armenia and Georgia will go to Turkey. These countries have never been independent.")
("These regions and the international community will ask us, and we will--with certainty--stop the disaster, but only on condition that they pay for it.")
". . . Throughout its history Kazakhstan has never had a role as an independent state. The whole of Kazakhstan is nothing but southern Siberia. . . . Kyrgyzstan, which used to belong to China, must go to Russia. There has never existed a state called 'Kyrgyzstan.' As for the rest, there are no problems of any kind with Mongolia, China, Japan, and India."
Russians Outside Russia
". . . all Russians living outside their homeland must be granted dual nationality. Then we will defend them, mainly by means of economic instruments. . . . take Estonia. . . . If the Russians do not obtain the right to vote in that country, we will implement an economic blockade. And without Russia's sources of energy and infrastructures, Estonia will be completely annihilated as a state. This is why we will never use military force but will use the force of law and the economy, instead, to protect Russians' interests."
Baltic States, Koeningsberg, and Finland
". . . Estonia. There are Russians living there. This territory must therefore be included within Russia's borders. . . . But Tallinn . . . should remain a kind of city republic, like Luxembourg, Monaco, or Liechtenstein. The rest of Estonian territory belongs to Russia. . . . In Latvia over half the population is Russian. In Riga only 35 percent of the population are Latvians. So the whole of Latvia must go to Russia. . . . Lithuania, with its capital Kaunas (sic), and with the cities of Panevezys and Siauliai, will form a small Lithuanian State. All the rest is Russia's. . . . Koeningsberg is part of Russia. Some day we may return it to Germany. We would like to give back to the West whatever the West wants."
(". . . Lithuania will become a small, independent state, an enclave. . . .")
([Finland] "No problem. Yet, Finland would like to have Karelia back. All I can say on this issue is that if Finland wants to have Karelia, all of Finland must go to Russia. We will not cede one inch in the West. One day, everybody will return to Russia. . . .")
Eastern Europe
"Gdansk, Wroclaw, and Sczeczin, which used to be part of Prussia, belong to Germany. And if Poland wants Lvov, we may even accept its request. This is to compensate the Poles for its losses. It will be Russia's gift to the West. But eastern Ukraine is entirely Russia's. The same applies to Moldova and Belarus. . . . Some day, perhaps, Slovakia will want to become part of Russia. The Czech Republic, however, will go to Germany. Austria and little Slovenia should unite. The future Germany-Austria-Slovenia will have to have access to the Adriatic. This is the German people's will. Thus the Germans will have well-founded historical borders to the east and south."
(". . . All of eastern Ukraine belongs to Russia . . . [note: much later in the interview] Belarus is Russian, Ukraine is Russian, and the people want to belong to Russia.")
(". . . Dobrudja also belongs to Bulgaria. And the Greeks should return Thrace to Bulgaria. . . .")
([Yugoslavia] "All foreign troops must leave the country. The Serbs, Croats, and Bosnians should keep the borders that exist now. The UN Forces should withdraw so that the warring parties can settle the conflict among themselves.")
German-Russian-Indian Axis
". . . Some day there will be a greater Germany and a new Russia, which will reach an agreement with India. India has 1 billion inhabitants. We have 300 million. So, together with Germany and India, we would total more or less 2 billion people. Then the world will take whatever form we want. India and Russia together will neutralize China in Asia. With Germany, Russia can neutralize Europe."
("One day, greater Germany, a new Russia, and India will form a new entente. Then there will be no problems for the world any more. India and Russia will neutralize China in Asia; Russia and Germany can control Europe; and Russia and the Balkan states will solve all problems in the Balkans.")
(Note: Source of quotes below from Zhirinovskiy's book is Moscow Izvestiya, 21 Jan 94, First Edition, pp. 1-2, in FBIS-SOV-94-015, 24 Jan 94, pp. 31-33.)
Dash to south to save Russia: "I have already begun to develop my own geographical concept. I don't want to give it my name, the Zhirinovskiy formula, say, but the last 'dash' to the south and an outlet for Russia to the shores of the Indian Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea are really the task of saving the Russian nation."
Shock 'Dash': "The idea emerged of the last 'dash'--last because it will probably be the last repartition of the world and it must be carried out in a state of shock therapy, suddenly, swiftly, and effectively."
Wash boots in Indian Ocean: "The last 'dash' to the south. I dream of Russian soldiers washing their boots in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean and switching to summer uniform forever. Lightweight boots, lightweight trousers. . . . And a small modern Russian assault rifle produced by the Izhevsk plant. These assault rifles are much better than UZI's. So any platoon of Russian soldiers can impose order anywhere."
'Dash' needed by Russia but states to south won't like it: ". . . we will make this last 'dash' to the south. We badly need it, it is medicine that we must take. Medicine is not always sweet. Some people in Kabul, Tehran, and Ankara may not like this. But millions of people will feel better as a result."
'Dash' as renaissance for the Army: "Our Army will perform this task. This will be a method of ensuring the survival of the nation as a whole, it will be the basis for the renaissance of the Russian Army. New armed forces can be reborn only as a result of a combat operation. The Army cannot grow stronger in military commissariats and barracks. It needs a goal, a task."
Pros outweigh cons and Army needs it: "The pros of carrying out this operation considerably outweigh the cons which may naturally be perceived. And the Russian Army also needs this so that our guys can flex their muscle, tired as they are of 'hazing,' instead of sitting around in barracks, in the depths of Russia, waiting for the end of their term of service, not knowing where the enemy is, who the adversary is, or what they need to prepare themselves morally and physically for. This would be a cleansing for us all."
Southern campaign: "May Russia successfully accomplish its last 'dash' to the south. I see Russian soldiers preparing for this last southern campaign. I see Russian commanders at the headquarters of Russian divisions and armies tracing the itineraries for the movement of troop formations and the destinations of the itineraries. I see aircraft at airbases in southern districts of Russia. I see submarines surfacing off the shores of the Indian Ocean and landing ships approaching shores along which Russian Army soldiers are already marching, infantry fighting vehicles are driving, and huge masses of tanks are moving. [The italics are V. Zhirinovskiy's.] At long last Russia completes its last military campaign."
America, the West, and Aid to Russia
America: ". . . Everywhere there are hotbeds of war, you find Americans. Everywhere you find diseases, they are diseases from America. AIDS is from America. Drunkenness and depravity is from America." (Moscow Ostankino Television First Channel Network, 11 Dec 93)
President Clinton: (Asked if he expected to meet with President Clinton during the January Summit) "I can, but he refused. He's afraid. He's a weak President. But what I can do? I'm strong. I'm brave. I can but he couldn't. In sexual life, that means impotensa. Impotensia!" (CBS Evening News, 12 Jan 94, reported in Dept. of Defense Radio/TV Dialogue media summary.)
"I am ready, but he is scared--and so much the worse for him. Shame on such a president, let him go on playing his saxophone at home and not come here at all. . . . You in the west are all scared of the new, honest, and brave politician emerging in Russia." (Moscow ITAR-TASS World Service, 6 Jan 94, in FBIS-SOV-94-004, 6 Jan 94, p. 3.)
President Clinton and Support for Disintegration of Russia: (President Clinton) ". . . has shown himself to be a weakling" (by not having a meeting with Zhirinovskiy in Moscow). "This is a gift, because anti-American feeling is growing in Russia, because the people know that Clinton supports the disintegration of Russia." (Belgrade Tanjug Domestic Service, 30 Jan 94, in FBIS-EEU-94-020, 31 Jan 94, p. 25.
Meeting with President Clinton: "He asked for a meeting, but I refused, because the invitation was addressed to the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia. It should have been addressed to me personally. . . . However, the chance of Clinton and me meeting has not been lost. My adviser will soon fly to the United States and arrange this in March or April. We will play golf and go to a ranch. We will have a rest and get to know each other better. . . ." (Sofia 168 CHASA, 28 Feb 94)
Aid to Russia: "We need no help from the United States or the West! . . . We are a very rich country. Very strong. Very rich." To an American, he bellowed, "No necessary help from you. Help Africa." (Statements to reporters at the Duma, reported by the Associated Press in The Washington Times, 14 Jan 94, p. A12.)
". . . Until now, the so-called help from the West has caused us more harm than good. Russia has been exploited materially and intellectually. Let them leave us alone, and we will reestablish Russian power. . . ." (Poznan WPROST, 2 Jan 94)
"This business of Western aid is just a provocation. Nobody gives us a cent: In fact they only come here to take. This IMF is just an illusion; it does us harm, and that is all. The tide of profiteers will gradually be eliminated: By 1995 we will have thrown them all out, we will have a new government and a new policy." (Milan Famiglia Cristiana)
Europe
Europeans: (Asked if he really wanted Italy to cede South Tyrol to Austria) "Definitely. You wanted to break us up into pieces. Well, now you can taste some of your own medicine. . . . You Italians, you Europeans, you Westerners. You caused the Soviet Union to collapse, and it would serve you right to suffer the same fate and see what it feels like. Thus, perhaps you will understand what Russia is experiencing now, without the 14 republics that have historically belonged to it. . . . You are small, but you must become even smaller. . . . (Rome La Republica, 12 Jan 94, p. 13, in FBIS-SOV-94-008, 12 Jan 94, pp. 22-23)
U.S. Troops in Europe: (Asked about a NATO proposal to move U.S. troops to the very border of Russia for defense) Zhirinovskiy said: "All American troops must come back to home. And Russian, all troops come back in Russia. It's good. If you would like to approach your troops to border of Russia, so you would like war. What kind of reasons to approach my troops to near the border of this country? That means I would like to have the war with this country." (CBS Evening News, 12 Jan 94)
Union with Germany: Zhirinovskiy is reported to have said that the "strategic point" for Russian foreign policy was a "union with Germany," which would "benefit the whole world." (Berlin DDP, 21 Dec 93, in FBIS-SOV-93-244, 22 Dec 93, p. 11)
Friendly relations with all, especially Germany: "We want to have proper friendly relations with other countries. That particularly applies to Germany. Russians and Germans should never fight each other again. The best possible partner-like relations are what we want and no less than that." (Hamburg Der Spiegel, 20 Dec 93)
Cooperation, especially with Germany: "I will develop the most extensive cooperation that Russia has ever had with the rest of the world. That is the only way in which we can put an end to military confrontation. It is my greatest wish that the last Russian soldiers should leave German soil soon, but all American troops should leave too. There should be no foreign military bases left on German soil. Germany should be completely free. No Russian ethnic German should leave. On the contrary, German farmers might have success here. . . . I would gladly welcome hundreds of thousands to the Moscow region, for example. We would give everyone 30 hectares of land for nothing and we would see to it that they have the best conditions so that they can work for the good of Germany and Russia. Houses are ready and the infrastructure is there, including telephone lines." (Hamburg Der Spiegel, 20 Dec 93)
Major Projects with Germany: ". . . I have proposed a joint German-Russian project for the construction of a highway linking Berlin and Moscow via Koenigsberg, that German should become the principal foreign language taught throughout Russia, that our students should participate in large-scale exchange programs, and that there should be a free cultural exchange between our countries. I have proposed that Germany play the leading role in the extraction of our mineral wealth, in our industry, and in joint defense projects." (Munich Deutsche National-Zeitung, 4 Feb 94, pp. 3-5, in FBIS-SOV-94-026, 8 Feb 94, pp. 18-19)
Oder-Neisse Line: ". . . when I talk of reaching agreement on a settlement of the East Prussia issue in a way that will be to the advantage of Germany and when I also say that history has not said its last word about the terrible injustice of the Oder-Neisse line, which I believe can be revised through peaceful negotiations, then I am portrayed as some evil demon from hell and a fanatical enemy of Germany." (Munich Deutsche National-Zeitung, 4 Feb 94)
Europe/Germany/Poland: ". . . In Europe we have an alliance with Germany, because it is a major country. But Poland lies between us, and there are problems there. I know the mood in Germany--to get back eastern Prussia, but that is part of Poland. . . . These, however, are Polish-German problems. . . ." (Moscow Komsomolskaya Pravda, 22 Jan 94, p. 2, in FBIS-SOV-94-015, 24 Jan 94, pp. 33-35)
Europe/Germany/Poland: "In Europe, we are mostly interested in good relations with Germany, and it is in this context that one should address the Polish question. However, we do not want to interfere in Poland's internal affairs. Even if Poland wants to join NATO, that is an internal matter for Poland and NATO. . . . Poland has never had a permanent border. It has possessed various shapes at various times of history, and there was a period when it was divided and formed part of Russia, among other countries. Until recently, the Russian forces guaranteed the Polish border. Today, in this matter, one should turn to NATO and Germany, which play the greatest part in this section of the continent. For the time being, the Poles can carry on singing 'Poland has not perished yet.'" (Poznan WPROST, 2 Jan 94)
Germany/Poland: (Asked by the Berlin media about "Eastern Prussia") "Solve that with Poland. We don't give a damn about it." (Berlin DDPADN, 7 Jan 94, in FBIS-SOV-94-005, 7 Jan 94, p. 10)
Eastern Europe: (asked about Russia regaining Eastern Europe) "Not at all. I say this to the countries of Eastern Europe: Stay neutral, free, and independent. You do not need NATO at all. Why do you want to lick American and British general's boots? You will never have anything to fear from Russia. Russia will never reach as far as Prague or Budapest." (Rome La Republica, 12 Jan 94)
Finland and Poland: "All the stories that . . . I threaten the sovereignty of Poland and Finland are lies. . . . We do not question at all the fact that Finland is now a sovereign state. . . . We do not talk about returning Finland to Russia. We do not need this. Let Finland be. The same applies to Poland." (Sofia Otechestven Vestnik, 27 Dec 93)
Czech Republic: ". . . if Vaclav Havel is unhappy, then I am also unhappy that a playwrite can become the president of a country. . . . Why is a playwrite a president? . . . Your country is on the decline . . . in 10 years from now, there will be no Moravia and no Sudetenland. In 10 years time, the entire Czech nation will curse Havel the way the Russian people are cursing Gorbachev . . . young Czechs . . . will be forced to speak German, to forget their mother tongue, to go to German churches, and to clean the boots of German officers. . . . Therefore, we want to talk to everyone at the congress of Slavic peoples. After all, there are 300 million of us and we will live together in an Eastern European Slavic community. We will not serve the West." (Prague Lidove Noviny, 9 Feb 94, pp. 1, 8, in FBIS-SOV-94-031, 15 Feb 94, pp. 9-10)
Czech Republic, Slovakia, and Slavic Cooperation: "Because of the Sudetenland and Moravia, the Czechs are closer to the Germans. Practically speaking, Czechia has no future. Germany will gradually take it over. Bratislava, however, could turn into a center for East European Slavic cooperation. This would be a counterbalance to the West European alliance . . ." (Ljubljana Mladina, 2 Feb 94)
Peace in the East: ". . . the period of transition in Russia and all East European countries has come to an end and these countries will soon see new political leaders come to power. Conditions will soon be ripe for sustainable peace and democracy for everybody, not for a single nation or group of individuals only. Man will be of paramount importance, he will be even more important than the state." (Sofia BTA, 26 Dec 93, in FBIS-EEU-93-246, 27 Dec 93, pp. 7-8)
Bulgarians decide their fate: ". . . nobody has the right to tell Bulgarian people how to live, who to govern them, what parties to have. Bulgarians alone can decide their fate." (Sofia BTA, 26 Dec 93)
Change Bulgarian leadership: "We think that Bulgaria must be a key country in the Balkans and that Macedonia and Thrace could be ceded to its territory. They are ancient Bulgarian lands. However, the main thing for us is the fact that the country's political leadership must be changed. Your current president, Zhelyu Zhelev, is a figure of the transitional period, which is about to end. The state leaderships of many East European countries are being replaced, and I would like to see Mr. Svetoslav Stoilov as your president. I think that this will also be beneficial for Russia. Mr. Stoilov is a well-known economist and our European consultant on all economic issues. Bulgaria needs such a president in the new year. The process of stabilizing relations throughout the entire Balkan peninsula with the participation of Russia will begin only after he comes to power. Then the violent actions and armed conflicts will end. Naturally, the help of the UN Security Council member-countries is necessary for this. . . . I think that this confederation among the Balkan states could be expanded by the inclusion of Romania and Hungary, but no state will have priority. Every nation has the right to live in the Balkans and discrimination based on nationality or religion is necessary. There have never been Muslims in the Balkans. Whoever claims the opposite lies. Slavonic and Christian peoples, predominantly belonging to the Eastern Orthodox Church, but also Catholics, lived here. The lie about the Muslim nation is a pure game on the part of certain centers. This all could be regulated and I think that the new Russian parliament, the Duma, will support the Liberal Democratic Party plan on peacefully and finally stopping the conflicts in the Balkan peninsula. However, for the time being, the main thing is to change Bulgaria's political leadership, and I think that this will happen soon." (Sofia Otechestven Vestnik, 27 Dec 93)
Serbia: "We side with the Serbs. Our position is clear. The Serbs must be saved. They are our Orthodox brethren." (quote not further identified, reported by Associated Press in USA Today, 15 Dec 93)
Support for Serbs: "We are supporting the Serbs and our standpoint is that the Serb lands--the republic of Srpska and the republic of Krajina should be within the Republic of Serbia. (he would be happy if) ". . . Russia and Serbia had a common border." (He has never) ". . . liked the policy pursued by Russian Foreign Minister Andrey Kozyrev, particularly in the Balkans," (and will demand his resignation) ". . . if he does not support Serb policy." (Russia has never threatened anybody with anything and has not done anything by force) ". . . but it will come, if someone calls for it." (When he is elected president, he will) ". . . propose an alliance of Slav states, whose center will not be Moscow, because everyone has grown tired of this." (Belgrade Tanjug Domestic Service, 30 Jan 94, in FBIS-EEU-94-020, 31 Jan 94, p. 25)
Former Yugoslavia: ". . . There should be only three parts: Slovenia, Croatia, and Serbia, full stop. And Bulgaria. All foreign armies should leave Yugoslavia. . . . There is no Muslim question. Historically speaking, the Muslims are ethnic Croats and Serbs. . . . Instead of Bulgaria, it should be named Macedonia. . . . Serbia should get the Serbian part of the present Macedonia. . . ." (Ljubljana Mladina, 2 Feb 94, p. 22, in FBIS-EEU-94-023, 3 Feb 94, p. 33)
Threats to those who bomb Serbs: "I am opposed to any kind of force against the Serbs. I warn you, I view the bombing of Serb cities as if it were the bombing of Russian cities. This would absolutely alter Russia's foreign policy. If the bombing takes place, we will--of course--send protests to the countries whose pilots take part in it. We will warn them that what they are doing to Serb cities will be done to their countries. Bombs will be dropped on the cities of those countries that bomb Serb cities." (Prague Lidove Noviny, 9 Feb 94)
Dissolve NATO, withdraw troops: "We have dissolved the Warsaw Pact, but NATO continues to exist. NATO must also be dissolved. All foreign troops must be withdrawn. . . . " (Vienna ORF Television Network, 21 Dec 93, in FBIS-WEU-93-244, 22 Dec 93, p. 5)
Disband NATO while East forms economic and cultural union: "We oppose [military blocs]. If the Warsaw Pact was dissolved, we think that NATO should also be dissolved as a military bloc. However, it is very possible that the East European peoples form an economic and cultural alliance with Russia, similar to the European Community, without attributing any military aspects to this alliance." (Sofia Otechestven Vestnik, 27 Dec 93)
NATO expansion okay: "Member of NATO or create a new block is their problem [preceding three words in German], for Russia no problem. We are for peace, but if Poland, Hungary would like to be included in NATO, okay." (Vienna Oesterrich Eins Radio Network, 22 Dec 93, in FBIS-WEU-93-244, 22 Dec 93, p. 6)
Oppose Poland joining NATO: ". . . Let us all be neutral and neither we nor you join. Do not think that they are waiting for you there. Even if that is so, it is waiting for servants who would polish the boots of German or British generals. They would force you to feed foreign divisions, they would behave like peasants. . . . Blacks from America will come over and kick you in the face. You are going to be a testing ground and a dump. You must understand that a neutral Poland and security guarantees for the whole of East Europe are what we need. . . . We Russians have never had an urge to push west. We have problems in the south. So, if you want, we will give you Lvov back. Do not join NATO in any case." (Warsaw Radio Warszawa Network, 10 Jan 94, in FBIS-SOV-94-007, 11 Jan 94, pp. 18-19)
Opposition to NATO Expanded Membership: "It would be best if all former East Bloc states remained neutral. NATO is a military bloc. If a country accedes to this bloc, this will not contribute to the establishment of peace. NATO will use these countries as small partners that are to serve the big members." (Vienna Kurier, 1 Feb 94, p. 5, in FBIS-SOV-94-021, 1 Feb 94, pp. 21-22)
Middle East
Iraq: "Interference in Iraqi affairs is inadmissible . . . We are very favorably disposed to everything that is going on in Iraq." (quote not further identified, reported by Associated Press in USA Today, 15 Dec 93)
Iraq and embargoes on Iraq, Libya, and Serbia: "We have never had any special relationship with him (Saddam Hussein). What happened historically was simply that the Soviet Union invested enormous sums in Iraq. Therefore, Iraq now owes us more than $10 billion, and it is ready to pay this. That is why it is not in our interest to take part in the embargo against Iraq--just like in the case of the embargo against Serbia and the embargo against Libya." (Budapest MTV Television Network, 7 Jan 94)
Mid-East arms embargo: ". . . The adherence to the arms embargo on the Middle East, for example, is costing us many billions of dollars. Russia could earn about $50 billion a year from weapons exports. . . ." (Poznan WPROST, 2 Jan 94)
World War III and the South: ". . . World War III is a possibility. I do not wish it but if the wars in the Balkans, the Caucasus, and Central Asia continue; if something happens between Iran and Iraq; or if the Kurdish problem in Turkey expands, then World War III might occur. I do not want it but we are slowly approaching that eventuality. . . . If the war continues in the Caucasus, Turkey will definitely be involved in it." (Ankara Show Television, 10 Jan 94, in FBIS-SOV-94-008, 12 Jan 94, pp. 21-22)
Turkey: ". . . I love Turkey and the Turks. . . . Everything is all right in the current Turkey. The Turks, however, arrived five centuries ago on Byzantine territory as enemies. They were the real enemy. They were not invited by anyone. . . . They decided that they had the power to occupy the rich people living in peace in the west. What kind of behavior was that? . . . I say that this is not the fault of the current Turkish people. . . . Why did Demirel visit our Central Asian republics? There are Russians living there. There is a Turkish speaking population but there is also a Russian speaking population. . . . This is not what the Russian people want. Let them interfere with another people. It can backfire. . . . That is why I wrote this book (Last Dash to the South) . . . it is written on what will happen if this interference continues. If this policy is pursued then it will backfire. The Russians will advance up to the shores of the Indian Ocean. The Turkish Army advanced up to the shores of Constantinople once. The Russians will now advance up to the shores of the Indian Ocean. (Ankara Show Television, 10 Jan 94)
Arms sales/proliferation: "We will continue to sell weapons everywhere. Whoever wants to buy will always be welcome. But we will ensure that our weapons do not end up in the hands of those who have aggressive intentions with respect to Russia. So to our neighboring countries we will sell only defensive weapons, while to distant countries we will sell offensive weapons." (Milan Famiglia Cristiana)
War against the Muslim world: ". . . This will be a religious war against the Muslim world. Well, it is already happening. For this reason, I have also written the book--the Last Push (Dash) to the South. . . . At the end of the 20th century, there will be no more international wars, however, religious wars will begin. . . . Now Turkey and Iran can push toward Caucasus, the Turks are penetrating into the Balkans, Iraq in Central Asia, Afghanistan in Tajikistan. You will have pan Islamism, Balkans, Arabs. France and Germany will be destabilized. Finally, Europe will be in a state of war. . . . (Who can stop all this?) "Only Russia. Russia could be a factor of stability. It could stop the process of disintegration of Europe, the Balkans, and central Asia. . . ." (Ljubljana Mladina, 2 Feb 94)