[v]

Foreword to Yevgeny Primakov's *A World Challenged*
as revised by Dr. Henry Kissinger

November 24, 2003

Yevgeny Primakov's new book, *A World Challenged*, makes an important contribution to understanding how Moscow views its role in this new international environment. One need not agree with everything Primakov writes—and I don't—to appreciate the significance and weight of his perspective.

First, Primakov is an experienced and astute observer of the international arena. He has served variously as an influential journalist, a prominent academic and think tank director, the chairman of the upper house of the Soviet parliament, the director of the Soviet and Russian foreign intelligence services, and ultimately Foreign Minister and Prime Minister under Boris Yeltsin. In these many roles, he has developed a broad network of connections from New York to London to Baghdad and Kabul. He has observed and participated in major global developments for over forty years. And, whatever one thinks of his views, he has been an enlightened academic and a serious and pragmatic official.

Yet, Primakov also remains an important presence in current Russian politics, through his roles as chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, a Russian business association, and as an informal advisor to current Russian President Vladimir Putin. His world view clearly reflects mainstream Russian thinking—with all its complexities—on Russia's place in the 21st-century international system. This thinking is not always well-understood outside Russia, and some of its elements are clearly not in full alignment with American interests and values. But so long as Russia remains a serious power that can affect vital U.S. objectives in areas such as the war on terrorism and non-proliferation, Russian views do matter and should be understood and, where appropriate, taken into account in order to make American foreign policy more effective.

OK as written
Prefer

[Y]

DRAFT

Yevgeny Primakov's new book *A World Challenged* makes an important contribution to understanding the world after September 11 and particularly how Moscow views its role in this new international environment. One need not agree with everything Primakov writes—and I don't—to appreciate the significance and weight of his perspective.

First, Primakov is an experienced and astute observer of the international arena. He has served variously as an influential journalist, a prominent academic and think tank director, the chairman of the upper house of the Soviet parliament, the director of the Soviet and Russian foreign intelligence services, and ultimately Foreign Minister and Prime Minister under Boris Yeltsin. In these many roles, he has developed a broad network of connections from New York to London to Baghdad and Kabul. He has observed and participated in major global developments for over forty years. And whatever one thinks of his views, he has been an enlightened academic and a serious and pragmatic official.

Yet, Primakov also remains an important presence in current Russian politics, through his roles as Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, a Russian business association, and as an informal advisor to current Russian President Vladimir Putin. His worldview clearly reflects mainstream Russian thinking—with all its complexities—on Russia's place in the 21st century international system. This thinking is not always well-understood outside Russia and some of its elements are clearly not in full alignment with American interests and values. But so long as Russia remains a serious power that can affect vital U.S. objectives in areas such as the war on terrorism and non-proliferation, Russian views do matter and should be understood and, where appropriate, taken into account in order to make American foreign policy more effective.

[Y]

DRAFT