Thursday, October 13, 2016

The world is at a 'dangerous point' because of rising tensions between Russia and the US, warns former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev

October 13, 2016 (Reuters) Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev has warned that the world is at a 'dangerous point' due to rising tensions between Russia and the US over Syria. Relations between the two countries are at their lowest since the Cold War and have soured in recent days after Washington pulled the plug on Syria talks and accused Russia of hacking attacks. Meanwhile the Kremlin has suspended a series of nuclear pacts, including a symbolic cooperation deal to cut stocks of weapons-grade plutonium.

Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, who has warned that the world is at a 'dangerous point' due to rising tensions between Russia and the US over Syria
Mr Gorbachev, who oversaw an easing of tensions with the West that helped to end the Cold War in the early 90s, has voiced his concern. The 85-year-old told state news agency RIA Novosti: 'I think the world has reached a dangerous point. I don't want to give any concrete prescriptions but I do want to say that this needs to stop. We need to renew dialogue. Stopping it was the biggest mistake. It is necessary to return to the main priorities. These are nuclear disarmament, the fight against terrorism, the prevention of an environmental disaster. Compared to these challenges, all the rest slips into the background.'
 Mr Gorbachev's comments come as France has said they will ask the International Criminal Court's prosecutor to launch an investigation into war crimes it says have been committed by Syrian and Russian forces in eastern Aleppo, pictured

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