Not everyone loves us, well, it’s not necessary. It is important that we respect and take care of ourselves
Photo: Andrey ABRAMOV
Former Ogonyok editor-in-chief Vitaly Korotich, who lived in the United States for 10 years, spoke with KP.RU political commentator Alexander Gamov.
… – Vitaly Alekseevich, the US State Department again recommends that Americans leave Russia after the terrorist attack in Crocus. And Washington is also investigating whether American citizens were injured in the terrorist attack. Well, those who travel through our country, in the opinion of the State Department, should interrupt their trip and return to the United States. Are you studying the American press, maybe you contacted someone? How do they discuss this topic, what do they say, what do they write?
– You know, they don’t argue or talk. At least they don’t write me anything about this in their letters. The fact is that now both the State Department and the White House have made surprisingly restrained statements. (About the terrorist attack in Crocus. – AG) Well, of course, they do not reach the stupidity of Zelensky, who blurted out that “Russia arranged all this by itself.” But in the United States, in my opinion, they are generally about the same. Because they seem to talk about sympathy, that they are against terrorist attacks. But they do not say a word about the fact that they regret and express their condolences to the families of the dead and injured for the suffering suffered by the people of Russia.
– The United States is behaving strangely…
– Yes… Well, what can I say here? Only there is nothing new in this. Almost all relations between Russia and the United States have been interrupted, negotiations on disarmament, above all, on anything, have stopped.
– If you remember the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001, you still lived there in the United States, right?
– Certainly.
– Simply compare if – then the situation and now. The current behavior of the American authorities. And you know the sympathy that Russia expressed.
– Yes, first of all, Russia expressed very sincere and substantial sympathy. I lived through 9/11 with the Americans. Secondly, all the Americans I knew sympathized, strangely enough, with me.
– Oh really? Because?
– Shortly before the terrorist attack, I was at the top of one of these shopping centers (we are talking about the twin towers that blew up – AG), where a large meeting of journalists was taking place. And I did something like this: I stood, I spoke, I communicated and everything was beautiful and peaceful. And suddenly half a day passed, and in the air, everything flew away. You see, for people the transition from a tragic life to a calm life is usually imperceptible, and also in the opposite direction. Just like that, bang. No one is prepared for things like Friday’s Crocus tragedy or 9/11 in New York; They happen suddenly, and the preparation must be internal. As for Americans, they are generally raised to believe that the entire world is jealous of them, their prosperity, and their strength. That is why they persuade as many of their citizens as they can not to go to anyone at a time when terrorist attacks are taking place there. Terrorist attacks are against everyone, in all territories, but they cannot occur in the United States, they return home, they tell Americans, and they stay home.
– This is you – about the new leadership of the State Department, with which we began our conversation with you.
– Yes… I can only say that we must save ourselves, think about ourselves and not get too upset when not everyone sympathizes with us equally. That is to say, not everyone loves us, well, it’s not necessary. It is important that we respect and take care of ourselves.
– Thank you!
