Gorbachev: Russian econ in dire straits, needs social mobilization

MOSCOW, Jan 20 (PRIME) -- The Russian economic situation is really tough, a profound anti-crisis program and mobilization of the entire society are needed to relaunch the growth, Mikhail Gorbachev, the first and last president of the USSR, said late Tuesday.

“Really tough (the current economic situation). We are in such a situation that huge efforts are needed, and smart, constructive efforts to get out of this,” Gorbachev said.

Gorbachev said referring to proposals made by the government and President Vladimir Putin earlier: “And many things seemed to spark hopes that it will get better. Then, it was all put aside. It turns out that it was said to calm down and then too small efforts are made to implement. Now, if we do not fulfill this we will be in the direst situation, we will slide. That is why the main issue now is union of efforts of the entire society.”

Russian authorities have not completed a comprehensive program to stop the crisis yet, he also said.

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