Jan Masaryk Quotes

Germany has an interest in détente—for general European and national reasons. Here we are in accord not only with our allies … but with almost everyone. Here we join with the nations and governments of the uncommitted world. Here interests we have in common with the Communist-governed states also come to light in spite of some polemics.

Nothing guides Russian policy so much as a desire for friendship with the United States.

Russia is an important power upon which the U.S.A. imposed a Cold War.

Following the missile crisis, detente started to gain ground between the United States and the Soviet Union, so the international political climate improved after that.

Prospects of normalizing our relations with Russia look good.

I believe that detente was having almost the opposite effect of what was intended. What was intended was to sort of end the contest for power and to stop Soviet expansion, especially by military means and the military build-up, the military contest.

And Israel, being a tiny, small country, of course has interest to strengthen - we have interest to strengthen our relations with other countries, mostly countries that were hostile for many, many years.

Turkey can be a bridge to regimes and actions the United States can't reach. Turkey can talk to people the United States can't talk to.

We welcome, we welcome this good cooperation between Russia and NATO.

No step the United States could take anywhere in the world would bring strategic benefits as great as detente with Iran.

Between Russia and the United States sentiments of good will continue to be mutually cherished.

The United States now has as its goal much more than simply containing Soviet expansionism. We seek the integration of the Soviet Union into the communlty of nations.... Ultimately, our objective is to welcome the Soviet Union back into the world order.

The Cold War is over. The world has become much more complicated.

Why were the Europeans bothered about the Soviet Union at all? It was nothing to do with us. China had nothing to do with us. Why were we not building, without reference to the Soviet Union, a good society in our own countries? But no, we were all — in one way or another — obsessed with the bloody Soviet Union, which was a disaster…

If Russia and the United States approach each other in starkly adversarial terms, the conflict will badly warp the foreign policy of both countries ...

The Cold War didn't end. It was won.

The threat to Europe is for us to push Russia into China’s arms.

The problem is not so much that they are Communists as it is that they are Russians.

The most important thing I would do is to try to institutionalize U.S.-Soviet summits.

Wouldn't it be nice if we actually got along with people, wouldn't it be nice if we actually got along, as an example, with Russia?

I don't worry about superpower confrontation. You know, I lived through the Cold War days, and where everybody was worried about a Soviet Union armed to the teeth. I think we're going to get along fine with Russia, and I don't see them as internationally ambitious.

It's better to get along with Russia than not.

If the United Nations is not as united as it should be, that is because it is a reflection of the world we live in.

If America can have a great relationship with Russia and with China and with all countries, I'm all for that. That would be a tremendous asset.

If America could get along with Russia - and by the way, China and Japan and everyone. If we could get along, it would be a positive thing, not a negative thing.