We should all be aware of the fact that when revolutionary - not evolutionary - changes come, things can get even worse. The intelligentsia should be aware of this. And it is the intelligentsia specifically that should keep this in mind and prevent society from radical steps and revolutions of all kinds. We've had enough of it. We've seen so many revolutions and wars. We need decades of calm and harmonious development.

The path towards a free society has not been simple. There are tragic and glorious pages in our history.

I'm convinced that democracy cannot be exported from one country to another, like you cannot expert revolutions, ideology.

I only had a telephone conversation with [Donald Trump], whereas [Shinzō ] Abe met with him in person.

As for these 60 years, and in general more than a hundred years, we have had different periods in relations and there have been tragic pages in our history, but since 1956 when we restored diplomatic relations, regrettably, we have not had a foundation on which to build ties that would correspond to our wishes and that are currently required in bilateral cooperation with Japan.

All we need is good will, and we have to start working in a way that considers each other's interests [with U.S]. In my view, this is a mandatory condition.

NATO and the USA wanted a complete victory over the Soviet Union. They wanted to sit on the throne in Europe alone.