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A. I for sure do not think that history ended with the fall of communism. The world is full of problems that are more serious than ever before. It would be a mistake to blame communism for all of civilization's problems and to think that its fall would make them disappear. The recent explosion of unrest in Los Angeles proved that even in a country with democracy and an advanced economy, conflicts may erupt to which the system has no answers.
Q. As we approach the year 2000, are you optimistic or pessimistic about the future?
A. I cherish a certain hope in me, hope as a state of spirit -- a state of spirit without which I cannot imagine living or doing something. I can hardly imagine living without hope. As for the future of the world: there is a colorful spectrum of possibilities, from the worst to the best. What will happen, I do not know. Hope forces me to believe that those better alternatives will prevail, and above all it forces me to do something to make them happen.
Q. I have been fascinated by a phrase that you have used in your writings and that translates into English as good taste. I wonder what you mean by that?
A. I have found that good taste, oddly enough, plays an important role in politics. Why is it like that? The most probable reason is that good taste is a visible manifestation of human sensibility toward the world, environment, people. I came to this castle and to other governmental residences inherited from communism, and I was confronted with tasteless furniture and many tasteless pictures. Only then did I realize how closely the bad taste of former rulers was connected with their bad way of ruling. I also realized how important good taste was for politics. During political talks, the feeling of how and when to convey something, of how long to speak, whether to interrupt or not, the degree of attention, how to address the public, forms to be used not to offend someone's dignity and on the other hand to say what has to be said, all these play a major role. All such political behavior relates to good taste in a broader sense. What I really have in mind is something more than just knowing which tie to choose to match a particular shirt.
Q. Do people respond when you appeal to them on the basis of atmosphere, good manners, good taste?
A. I feel that this appeal of mine is finding a positive echo, but a very indirect one. Here, as in every democracy, we witness all the aspirations, ambitions, battles and hunger for power. My position seems to be the one of a dreamer who mumbles something about ideals, completely untouched by real life, whereas politics takes a different course. But this is a very banal view. In reality it seems to me that my constant repetition of certain things planted seeds. I do see this right now, in the moment when my federal presidency is over. From various sides I seem to be hearing voices that call for exactly such a person who would be constantly reminding the society of the values I stand for. These voices also maintain that such a person should be leading this state. These voices paradoxically enough seem to be coming from those who have never listened to my advice, and who blocked my nomination for the presidency. What happened cannot be undone, but the seeds I planted in the subconsciousness of the people are there acting indirectly.