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Second, it was during the 1980s that mankind for the first time seriously began to think in ecological terms. The need for radically reassessing the relationship between mankind and the planet was made manifest by Chernobyl, acid rain, ozone-layer depletion, the greenhouse effect, vanishing forests and freshwater shortages. The ecological movement is now on the rise. Government policies are beginning to change. International ecological cooperation has begun. Yet it will take a tremendous effort to overcome the inertia of mindless devastation of the environment, or even restrain the inertia generated by the industrial era.
Third, and this is related to the first two points, there is a greater awareness now that the countries and peoples of the East, the West, the North and the South -- however different their social systems and levels of development, and however dissimilar their cultures, beliefs and ideologies -- are parts of a single world and have basic, vital interests in common. These elements of unity and this new social self-awareness form the foundation on which modern world politics should be built. And this is already happening.
Fourth, the 1980s marked a major watershed in the history of the Soviet Union. The logic of life confronted us with the need for profound changes in the context of our socialist choice. Hence our perestroika. For our people, progress is inconceivable without the socialist idea. Hence also the powerful tendency toward democratic change here. Hence too the new thinking in foreign policy. Changes inside the U.S.S.R. have had a profound impact on world developments; there is a new international situation, with greater prospects for a period of peace in the development of civilization and vast opportunities for a better life for people everywhere.
We continue to back up our new philosophy with deeds, with action, with the force of example. Perestroika and new thinking are inseparable.
Fifth, after the Soviet Union, the democratic tide has swept other countries, especially those with closer ties to us. Naturally, developments took a different course in each of these countries. But they also had a common logic, with a dramatic increase in the social and political activity of citizens seeking to gain genuine control over their lives and the policies of their governments.
Whether these developments are to bring about true progress and real innovation will depend on how firmly we establish in world politics the principles of freedom of choice and the renunciation of force, which does not mean just military force. As far as we in the Soviet Union are concerned, this matter has been settled once and for all. But others still seem to be tempted to resort to old methods and confrontational approaches, where one side's victory is another's defeat.
New thinking does not come easily. It turns out that one must learn it the hard way, as I see both in my own country and in the U.S.
Summarizing the essence of the historic turn that occurred in the 1980s, I would say this: within a very short span of time, people have begun to regain hope for a better future.
Q. More specifically, what are the most important changes since you were last in Washington for your summit meeting with former President Reagan in December 1987?