Boris Yeltsin Quotes (101 Quotes)

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

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.

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

I'm thinking in particular of the appeals for humanitarian interference -- this is a new idea -- in the internal affairs of another state, even when this is done on the pretext of protecting human rights and freedoms,

At large, our approaches are common, but not always so,

In principle, most of the issues have been resolved peacefully, ... But one question, which I would undoubtedly call the principal one, is sectors. In other words, they don't want to give Russia a sector.

They have tried to go back to the Middle Ages, ... Our duty is to protect Russian citizens and restore law and order in this territory.

I'm doing everything possible to put an end to military actions,

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

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

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.

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.

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.

Everything that is aimed at countries present here, ... all of those weapons are going to have their warheads removed.

You have no right to criticise Russia over Chechnya.

in order to minimize the negative consequences for Russia.

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 is the last day of an era past.

if Russia stays with the path of reforms.

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.

President Yeltsin is pushing the nation to a civil war.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

It's not democracy when a dictator is walking around with a sword in his hand. This is inadmissible.

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

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.

I made the decision on the government's resignation, at the same time having in mind that (Chernomyrdin) will lead the presidential campaign,

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

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

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

The aggravation of relations with our neighbors in the name of recreating the old union will turn into tragedy.

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.

There will be no devaluation -- that's firm and definite, ... I'm not simply fantasizing. Everything has been calculated. Every day, work is done to control the situation in this area.

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.

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

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

Islam will not forgive the Americans for a long time - the fact that they destroyed a country like Iraq and war continues there.

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.

The majority of people still haven't felt the results of economic reform and aren't satisfied with our work,

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.

I hope that through an open dialogue we will be able to convince those and other countries that their security will not increase by bringing them closer to NATO,

There should be confidence that investors do not flee but rather come to Russia. The bank and finance ministry have enough reserves today to hold on.

I spoke with him yesterday.

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.

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,