Arabist and Orientalist
Yevgeny Primakov was born October 29, 1929 in Kiev. Official information about the father is not preserved, it is only known that he was arrested. Shortly after the birth mother, an obstetrician-gynecologist Anna Kirshenblant, carried the child in Tbilisi, where he graduated from high school.
Primakov entered the Arabic department of the Moscow Institute of Oriental Studies in “geographers for the Arab countries,” and then the Faculty of Economics graduate Moscow State University.
From 1956 to 1962 he worked in Primakov USSR Radio and Television, he was promoted to chief editor of the broadcast to Arab countries. He left at his own request due to a conflict with the curators of the Department of Propaganda of the Central Committee of the CPSU.
He worked as a correspondent of the newspaper “Pravda” in the Middle East, I spent four years in Cairo. In 1969, during a trip to Baghdad, met with Saddam Hussein and the future Iraqi Foreign Minister Tariq Aziz, went to the north of Iraq, where the Kurds dealt with the leader Massoud Barzani. Frank and trusting relationship he established with the presidents of Syria and Egypt – Hafiz Assad and Hosni Mubarak, Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, Abu Iyad.
On the eve of the start of “Operation Desert Storm” in late 1990 and early 1991 Primakov, the several visits to Iraq on a secret mission, trying to persuade Saddam Hussein to withdraw from Kuwait. Power operation could not be avoided, and public friendly hug Primakov with the Iraqi dictator of the USSR contributed to the deterioration of image in the world.
«When I arrived study in Moscow for a long time experienced such a state that I on a business trip. I call home almost every day. Then it was necessary to Tbilisi to get a train for four days. If I suddenly fell free for ten days, make sure you went to Tbilisi. Four days one way, four – in the other, but two days in Tbilisi »
– in 2009, in an interview with the author of” I rode a lot, but not saddled ” . Thirty hours of Yevgeny Primakov “about his life in Tbilisi
team Gorbachev
In February 1988, Primakov was elected to the Supreme Soviet of the USSR and then chairman of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR and a member of the Security Council of the USSR. Primakov entered the inner circle of Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev.
In 1991, Primakov becomes the “sherpa” – assistant head of the state in dealing with “Seven».
During the August 1991 coup, he fly to Gorbachev in Foros, refusing to join the Emergency Committee and supported Gorbachev.
Immediately after the suppression of the coup Primakov became the head of foreign intelligence – first the Soviet Union and after the collapse of the Soviet Union – Russia. “The proposal to head the intelligence was so unexpectedly stunning that, I confess, took his first serious” – Primakov writes.
In his new position, he has made the adoption of the law “On the Foreign Intelligence Service of the Russian Federation».
Diplomatic work
In January 1996, when Primakov replaced Andrei Kozyrev as head of the Russian Foreign Ministry, the newspaper Die Zeit quoted former US Secretary of State James Baker, “Primakov is known as a personal friend and apologist of dictator Saddam Hussein ».
Still, inquired Die Zeit, whether Primakov enemy of the West, if Washington does not see in it a suitable partner? According to the newspaper, Primakov “neither friend nor enemy of the West; more pragmatist than ideologue; rather faceless bureaucrat than a careerist; Under Brezhnev, he was not a “hawk,” Gorbachev did not become the standard-bearer of liberalism; he is now a supporter of great power, but without any chauvinism. ” The article is about Primakov Die Zeit titled as “The Messenger of new greatness».
«I, as referred to in Soviet times” advanced. ” I can not say that I resisted. But now there is a feeling that someone was leading me by the hand »
– August 8, 2001, in an interview with the newspaper” Arguments and Facts “about how he got into power
In general, Western politicians and the media saw a figure Primakov as a centrist and pragmatist, willing to compromise, but confident in the rightness of his country.
As a professional diplomat, Primakov was able to establish trusting relationships with their colleagues. The main foreign partner during the management of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and then by the Russian government for it was the US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. In April 2015 she gave a lecture at Harvard, recalled a case in the closing ceremony of the ASEAN forum in July 1998 when they sang a duet with Primakov excerpt from “West Side Story.” Establishing a relationship at this level requires a serious mutual work, Albright said. “Although, unfortunately, many men, like Yugoslav leader Slobodan Milosevic thought that to reach this level may be only his charm,” – she added.
«Primakov will save us»
Primakov worked Prime Minister exactly nine months – from 11 September 1998 to 12 May 1999. In September 1998, immediately after the default and devaluation of the ruble, Yeltsin twice unsuccessfully introduced to the State Duma the candidacy of former Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin, after which a compromise figure appeared Primakov – he was voted 315 deputies out of 450, including the Communist Party.
Boris Yeltsin was seriously ill, and the officials of his administration engaged in a war of all against all, written in September 1998, “Kommersant” in the article “Primakov will save us.” The head of the then administration Valentin Yumashev outlined the plan: to hold out until 2000, so that the next elections were held in due time and thereby ensure the continuity of power.
Reach could only shift some presidential duties to the prime minister. It is believed that the post of Prime Minister Primakov was not torn – he urged, as the host country in such a situation he did not want. Yumashev in an interview with “Moskovsky Komsomolets” reported: “I had a mandate from the Yeltsin talks with Primakov, when Primakov persuaded to head the government. And there was such an agreement they are working together with Yeltsin before the end of his term, and together looking for the next president – of course, for Boris Nikolayevich had the last word. ” Boris Berezovsky, in an interview with Masha Gessen on Slon.ru recalled that participated in persuasion.
The consent has been obtained, subject to Primakov that his work does not interfere with the presidential administration. He became prime minister and at the same time as a presidential candidate. The operational management of the country passed to the head of the government, as Yeltsin was forced to abandon most of the trips abroad. Replace it at all visits, except for meetings of “eight”, Primakov had.
In autumn 1998, Primakov took the most important decision that saved the country, the head of the Russian government in 2000-2004 Mikhail Kasyanov. “He took responsibility for the dire situation – default, devaluation. At that time I worked as the Minister [of Finance], and many met him. Only thanks to him and his decisions were able to stabilize the situation “, – told RBC Kasyanov.
But Yeltsin, his administration and himself Kasyanov believes that the next president should be someone who can carry out needed reforms. “When it is time to think about a new presidential term, we felt that the country needs young and energetic policies that will ensure sustainable development, thus seemed to Vladimir Putin,” – said Kasyanov.
«It was the first time that the government headed by a person who was not part of a radical democratic groups working in government Chernomyrdin. Everyone knew that Primakov has a different opinion, he formed a government, which relied on the Communist Party to a large extent. Radical liberals discussed with great concern, whether Primakov and will engage the reforms, or at least to do something sensible with the economy – which was hard to expect from him, “- says the scientific director of the Higher School of Economics and a former economy minister Yevgeny Russia Yasin.
He said that Primakov did not engage in some communist project, or at least anti-liberal. “The most spectacular event in this was the fact that inflation in 1998 was only 84%. Then, after the 1990s, it was a moderate performance – and the radicals subsided. All the more so began recovery in the economy and the business became serious work to increase production “, – said Yasin. Furthermore, it became profitable to produce goods in Russia because of the sharp devaluation of the ruble depreciation was great, it made the Russian raw materials and products more profitable, reducing the growth began, he recalled.
U-turn over the Atlantic
March 24, 1999 Prime Minister flew to the US to visit and learn about the intention of NATO to bomb Yugoslavia turned his plane already flying over the Atlantic Ocean. This historic episode of the current policy is often spoken of as the beginning of the revival of Russian statehood and the first demonstration of the world that Russia can not speak from a position of strength.
Photo: AP
«His face was like Brezhnev in his best years. The politician spoke slowly and monotonously, but the words of former prime minister were tough, “- he describes Primakov German newspaper Der Tagesspiegel during a visit of Russian policy in Berlin in October 1999.
In this speech, which he delivered after talks with Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, he condemned the Chechen terrorists and justifies the actions of the federal forces.
«Not so sat – Odakyu»
The Cabinet of Ministers headed by Primakov It contrasted sharply with the democratic youth of the previous government: it included the Communist Party-oriented politicians from the Soviet experience in senior positions: Yuri Masliukov, Vadim Gustov, Gennady Kulik. It made its debut in this government vice-premier Valentina Matvienko, the head of the tax service, Georgy Boos, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Igor Ivanov.
As the stabilization of the situation in the economy decreased government support from the Kremlin. Primakov began to look for allies among left. This is only exacerbated the conflict with the administration of President Yeltsin and the environment.
Mr Berezovsky in the same interview, Hesse did not conceal the conflict with Primakov, he said that the Prime Minister declared a crusade for democratic reform in Russia. It was then, according to Berezovsky, Primakov began to become a “war” against Putin headed the FSB.
Primakov stayed in the Premier nine months, because the thought he could go for the presidency, said in an interview with Yumashev “Moskovsky Komsomolets” . “Boris Nikolayevich felt that Primakov can not be president, and sent him to resign,” – Yumashev recalled in 2011.
fanning Primakov’s government, Yeltsin explained its decision by the need of the economic miracle by which his Primakov diplomatic experience and presidential ambitions can not. “The grounds for serious and sustained economic growth there. Caution is the prime minister, a willingness to take only those measures that get maximum approval and support now start to work harm. For those wishing to keep ahead of the elections is not unpopular decisions ».
The man capable of unpopular measures, Yeltsin initially thought Sergei Stepashin, who in August of the same year succeeded Putin. Preparing for the dismissal was followed by Yeltsin’s famous phrase: “Do not sit so – Odakyu».
«With the death of Primakov left the era of conscience, statehood, integrity as the new Russia and the former Soviet Union”, – Stepashin said on Friday Interfax news agency. He also said that Primakov was able to “make friends, and do not betray,” taking responsibility, not shifting it to other people.
«The real attack on me and started fate was sealed as the prime minister when it became clearly my serious intention to fight economic crime and corruption, “- later recalled Primakov.
« I, for example, when was chairman of the government, could not (or rather, simply did not have time) to reduce a significant portion of the 320 thousand. federal officials (law enforcement agencies do not count), who sat in the regions. At first I called ministers preload their states. Pulled. Then I said I would do it myself. And I would have done. Resignation prevented »
– April 28, 2009, in an interview with” Izvestiya “on how the state should deal with the economic crisis
«Fatherland – All Russia»
After retiring, Primakov entered into an alliance with Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov. They joined the governors largest regions Mintimer Shaimiev, Murtaza Rakhimov, Ruslan Aushev, Vladimir Yakovlev. It was assumed that after the presidential elections Primakov and Luzhkov will share the presidency and the prime minister.
In August 1999, Primakov became chairman of the bloc “Fatherland – All Russia” (OVR), formed through the merger of “Fatherland”, Yuri Luzhkov, and the governor movement “All Russia”. In the parliamentary elections in 1999, the unit ranked third, behind pro-presidential “Unity” and the Communist Party.
The new Duma began working almost simultaneously with the resignation of Yeltsin, December 31, 1999, Putin became acting president. This appointment was the beginning of the end of the “Fatherland.” Already at the first meeting of the elected deputies of the unit revealed that some of its members are willing to shift to Putin to support his candidacy in the upcoming March 2000 presidential election. These deputies were not included in any faction or deputy group recorded “Regions of Russia”, which included almost half elected from IAD. In the “Fatherland” left 49 people.
«I have decided not to participate in elections. After much thought. This decision was not easy. However, during the elections and the beginning of work in the State Duma, I felt, how far our society from a civil appearance from true democracy. I do not think that the situation can change radically in a few months, »
– February 5, 2000, announcing its decision not to participate in presidential elections in Russia
Primakov has created one of the most amicable factions, says United Russia deputy, Nikolai Kovalev (entered in OVR). He was remarkably consistent speaker, relied on the analyst, his designs were clear, said the deputy. “Primakov left all his deputies, pushing them to the leading positions. Thus, he left behind Vyacheslav Volodin, who continued his work. It speaks about his political instincts, he objectively assess the role of each in the work, “- said RBC Kovalev.
« Yevgeny Primakov joined two eras – he was a successful politician in Soviet times and was able to regroup and to adapt to the market economy “, – says the vice-speaker of the State Duma, Andrei Isayev, a member of the leadership OVR, then the” United Russia “, which was formed by the merger of OVR and” Unity ».
As head of the Duma faction Fatherland of the third convocation, he could build relationships with other factions, the administration, the government paid attention to each member of the faction, listened to their problems and always looking for a solution, said Isayev. The MP believes that the anticipated policy Primakov, Putin realized that (referring, in particular, turn over the Atlantic).
«He knew the answers to many of the problems in advance. We learned from him as disciples, each felt a need “- said RBC United Russia deputy Nikolai Bulaev (also part of the faction OVR). According to him, from the Duma in the House, he left because, perhaps, I thought that there could get more job satisfaction. “Maybe he wanted to give those who have been close in a fraction, the possibility of additional growth. But it is certainly not some resentment. He wanted to be as useful as possible “, – said the deputy.
Putin adviser, not a rival
After the departure of Boris Yeltsin, political analysts and experts have seen in the quality of Primakov its possible successor and opponent of Putin, who was appointed interim president.
But Primakov almost immediately declared that he would not run for president. Instead, he put forward a candidate for the post of chairman of the State Duma of the third convocation, which took place on the eve of elections.
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