Boris Yeltsin Quotations

Your commanders have ordered you to storm the White House and to arrest me. But I as the elected President of Russia give you the order to turn your tanks and not to fight against your own people.

There were no strategic mistakes that could affect Russia's history and it further development. No, there were no such mistakes. Tactical errors were made in some less significant options, problems and so on. But, on the whole, Russia embarked on a correct path and it changed

We don't appreciate what we have until it's gone. Freedom is like that. It's like air. When you have it, you don't notice it.

Let's not talk about Communism. Communism was just an idea, just pie in the sky.

A man must live like a great brilliant flame and burn as brightly as he can. In the end he burns out. But this is far better than a mean little flame.

I would like to stress here that a lasting peace in the Chechen republic and so-called peace talks with the bandits are not the same thing, and I would ask everyone to make no mistake about that

You have no right to criticise Russia over Chechnya.

You can build a throne with bayonets, but you can't sit on it for long.

We want peace and a political solution to the situation in Chechnya

I understand that it's hard for everyone, but one cannot give in to emotions... we'll have to draw lessons from the current crisis and now we'll have to work on overcoming it.

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.

International terrorism is throwing down a challenge, and not just to Russia.

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

Europe has found itself confronted with fresh challenges - challenges of a global character, the nature of which is directly connected with changes in the international climate and the difficulties of seeking new models for co-operation

There are numerous bugbears in the profession of a politician. First, ordinary life suffers. Second, there are many temptations to ruin you and those around you. And I suppose third, and this is rarely discussed, people at the top generally have no friends.

The most important thing is that Milosevic agreed to sit at the negotiating table with the Kosovo Albanians

One could see that what you are writing was that today's meeting with President Bill Clinton was going to be a disaster. Now, for the first time, I can tell you that you are a disaster

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

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

We are well aware from which countries and through which countries the terrorists are receiving support. In the immediate future I shall be calling upon the leaders of these states to put a stop to this kind of activity.

We, Russia, are prepared to work with others. I am convinced that stability and security in Europe cannot be considered without taking Russia into account

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

We believe that gradually, as we have planned, without hurry, this problem can be overcome,

We remain friends, ... in a very friendly atmosphere.

We lack rubles, and that's where the delays come from,

What we really need is not their money but their trust,

The clouds of terror and dictatorship are gathering over the whole country. They must not be allowed to bring eternal night.

I especially love driving down a hill directly at a tree and swerving to one side at the last moment. That's my way to relax.

A total of 1,580 people, the civilian population, suffered as a result of the bloody wave of terrorist acts that swept over Moscow and other towns and villages of our country.

A government is not an old pair of socks that you throw away.

We Russians are already living, not getting ready to live.

Not a single reform effort in Russia has ever been completed.

The West has not lived through totalitarianism, with a single ideology for 70 years.We are escaping from the burden of the past, and onlyafter we have done that will we be ready to integrate with Europeand Europe needs Russia.

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.

I believe in this tragic hour you can make the right choice. The honor and glory of Russian men of arms shall not be stained with the blood of the people.

A sense of proportion and humanitarian action are not issues for terrorists. Their aim is that of killing and destroying.

I ask you to forgive me for not fulfilling some hopes of those people who believed that we would be able to jump from the totalitarian past into a bright, rich and civilized future in one go.

Money, big money (which is actually a relative concept) is always, under any circumstances, a seduction, a test of morals, a temptation to sin.

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.

The Soviet Union could not exist without the image of the empire. The image of the empire could not exist without the image of force. The USSR ended the moment the first hammer pounded the Berlin Wall.

A politician must have some scruples, a certain decency; he cannot smear himself in the mud for the sake of a high ideal.

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.

I cannot shift the blame for Chechnya, for the sorrow of numerous mothers and fathers. I made the decision, therefore I am responsible.

Gorbachev gave us freedom of worship and freedom of speech and freedom to see what was going on and freedom to vote, but that freedom won't last unless it is underpinned by economic freedom.

Let's not talk about Communism. Communism was just and idea, just pie in the sky.

The main problem with being president is the constant sense that you are inside a glass bowl for everyone to see, or in a kind of barometric chamber with an artificial atmosphere where you must stay all the time.

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

Let us do everything to...ensure that those tragic events never happen in our land again.

Many provisions of the law infringe on constitutional rights and freedoms of individuals and citizens, establish inequality between different confessions and violate Russia's international obligations.

must be held to answer for its irresponsible decision.

Only by pooling our efforts can Russia and the United States find solutions to the most complicated international and bilateral problems, ... promote the formation of a stable and secure system of international relations.

I was talking about strengthening personnel. Perhaps this affects not the minister, but the need to find a good deputy. Then the problem can be solved.

I am convinced that he is going to be greatly useful for the country.

I am satisfied, ... We have dragged our feet a bit. But the main thing is we have decided to approve the budget in its first reading.

I apologize to the families of the victims. I apologize, because I carry the responsibility for it all, ... I also declare we will fight (the bombers) mercilessly.

I have a very low estimate of your work in this direction. I am not satisfied and I have to draw the necessary conclusions,

I expect the government ... to carry out a prompt investigation of the causes of the tragedy and find those responsible,

For us the personal support of Helmut Kohl as a world leader is important... on the basis of this declaration investors will not leave Russia.

If we withdraw troops, carnage will start in Chechnya.

He is behaving too loudly on this -- too loudly ... Well, now (some are saying) let us flood it all with planes and bombs. No, frankly speaking, it is not like Clinton at all.

Today is the last day of an era past.

The people have already rid themselves of the fear they had several years ago. I call on my compatriots to begin constructive work in order to revive and renew Russia in the name of national unity.

Today is a very responsible moment, since we have been left without a government for two weeks. That means lost money and lost opportunities,

Today I am addressing you for the last time as Russian president. I have made a decision. I have contemplated this long and hard. Today, on the last day of the outgoing century, I am retiring.

Today, a day of mourning, a new disaster hit us, ... Terrorism has declared war on us ... Terrorists are trying to scare the Russian people. They are trying to demoralize the state.

We must gradually arrange things to get rid of foreign (aid) injections,

He (Clinton) is behaving too loudly on this -- too loudly

I swear, in exercising my authorities as president of the Russian Federation, to respect and uphold the rights and freedoms of the individual and the citizen.

It is not right for us to think about successors. Kings have successors but we don't. It is the people that choose.

I think these qualities will be decisive during presidential elections in 2000, ... decent, honest and thorough.

It is a significant sum for those who invest in Russia.

is doing very little to get Russia out of the present crisis.

I said before the elections and repeat now -- don't rush to change the portraits. The country has a president and an active president at that.

Our calls, continual proposal (on a peaceful solution to Kosovo) obviously are not getting through

That doesn't mean that I abandon my constitutional powers to appoint ministers and government members. No, I don't,

My soul aches when I think about hungry soldiers, unpaid officers and their families, who have been suffering for years without a home of their own,

will be able to unite those who will renew the great Russia in the 21st century.

We must tell the truth -- the (czar's) massacre has become one of the most shameful pages of our history, ... By burying the innocent victims we want to expiate the sins of our ancestors.

We can be proud that this is being done peacefully, without revolutions and coups.

We are obliged to put an end to the spread of the cancer of terrorism,

We are not taking part in this war, we didn't start this war,

You have no right to criticize Russia for Chechnya, ... We are obliged to put an end to the spread of the cancer of terrorism.

The patience of the public and of the president is not limitless,

The past two years in Russia's life have been full of stormy political events, great laborious work on reforming the economy, ... Soon there were disappointments, too, and unfulfilled hopes. But we've never lost the conviction in the necessity of the transformations we're carrying out.

Today, on the last day of the outgoing century, I resign,

We don't have Western priorities. We are equally oriented to the west, the east, the north and the south. We want friendship with all.

The crisis in the Balkans demands not emotional evaluations, but well-balanced and decisive actions,

We have gotten stuck half-way in our transition from the planned and command economy to a normal market economy. We have created...a hybrid of the two systems.

were to return to dust, the period of his rule will remain the brightest and most romantic in Russia's 20th-century history -- simply because Russia had not experienced such high expectations for a very long time.

You have to be more careful in a world filled with all types of weapons, some of which are in the hands of terrorists. All of this is very dangerous. You can't threaten like that, that you'll send in planes and bombs -- no!

With pain I learned about the tragedy that has struck your family, ... You have lost the most loyal and devoted friend. Gone is a wonderful person, a beautiful woman, a loving wife and mother.

You have lost the truest and most devoted friend. The most outstanding person, the most wonderful woman, a loving wife and mother has passed away,

We will meet and discuss the question of how to get out of the situation without getting into a big war,

We will bring order both to Dagestan and other republics in the North Caucasus,

to show common sense and restraint and not to allow further escalation of the conflict.

Various rumors have been in circulation in the mass media concerning my trip to Switzerland at a time when we have problems here in Russia which need to be solved. Even if I go on holiday, to have some rest, I will stay on Russian territory.

What can I say? The year was difficult for this country, for many of you, and for me, too. But New Year's Eve is always about new hopes, new dreams, new plans,

We should find a compromise which would suit everyone,

Viktor (Chernomyrdin's) main advantages are decency, honesty, and thoroughness. I think these qualities will be the decisive argument in the presidential election,

We have extreme measures in reserve...but we have decided not to use them. We are above that. On the moral level we are superior to the Americans.