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Authors: Alexei Filitov, chief research associate, Institute of World History, Russian Academy of Sci-
ences, Professor, Doctor of Science (History)
Evgeniya Pyadysheva, Executive Secretary of International Affairs, Candidate of Science (History)
E. Pyadysheva:
The Yalta Conference is an ex-
ample of how the powers that had acquired great
influence and authority as a result of the Great
Victory over the challenge to humankind, such as
Hitler's aggression, were able, in the course of ne-
gotiations, to find compromise solutions to seri-
ous and conflicting problems.
We still live according to the Yalta rules. However,
we see that they are changing. Alexei Mitro-
fanovich, when do you think the destruction of this political system began?
A. Filitov:
This is a very interesting question, which is somewhat unexpected to me. It is
often said in the West that Yalta divided the world. As a matter of fact, the division of the
world began in 1917, when two opposing systems appeared. But the problem was how the
dividing line would pass. As is known, before the war, it passed along the western borders
of the Soviet Union while in Yalta it was established that this line would pass across the
middle of Europe. It is also important to understand how rigid that line was supposed to
be.
Going back to our observations with regard to the beginning of the end of the Yalta sys-
tem, I believe that this system was created under the conditions of bipolarity. So when
one of its components - the socialist system - ceased to exist, then the Yalta system has in
fact collapsed. So the goal today is to build a new security system, maybe with some border
changes, because the old system is history now.
E. Pyadysheva:
Let us recall the historical circumstances that compelled, above all, Roo-
sevelt to ask for a conference to be held. He was also the one to propose a venue - the
Black Sea coast.
With his characteristic sarcasm Winston Churchill advised the Americans to call the up-
coming event the Argonaut Conference. He wired to Franklin Roosevelt: "We are direct
descendants of Argonauts.''
A memo and other documents prepared for the president in Washington for the Yalta talks
stressed: We need support from the Soviet Union to rout Germany. We desperately need
the Soviet Union for a war with Japan after the war in Europe ends. Judging by the present
situation, all peoples of Europe are affected by leftist sentiments and advocating for far-
reaching economic and social reforms.
Yalta - a 70-Year Era