Ambitious goal
“We have set ourselves the goal, which we consider attainable, of shifting from the current nose-dive to a gentle fall and then stabilisation by the end of the year.” -- Yegor Gaidar, Russian deputy prime minister.
Spaceman
“Are there ways America can save time and money building Space Station Freedom by using CIS equipment and expertise? Could we one day travel with the Russians to the planet Mars?” -- Former US president Ronald Reagan advocating increased cooperation with the states of the former USSR, presumably so he can return home.
New world order
“I do not want to be responsible for what is going to happen.” -- Nzau Puna, for 30 years right-hand man of US-South African client Jonas Savimbi, seeking political asylum in Portugal last March following repeated violations of the Angolan peace accords by Savimbi's Unita movement.
Nuclear
“It's impossible to deliver these power stations by missile to some other country, but in reality they are no less dangerous than nuclear weapons.” -- Alexei Yablokov, environmental adviser to Russian president Boris Yeltsin.
Rehabilitated
“Whom I meet here in Munich ... I as chancellor will decide. I do not need any advice on that.” -- German chancellor Helmut Kohl after meeting with Kurt Waldheim, ostracised by world leaders after revelations that he was involved in Nazi war crimes in Yugoslavia during World War II.
Labor tradition
“Bob Hawke's unilateral abdication of responsibility hindered and embarrassed his ministers in the promotion of human rights, home and abroad. They never knew when he would again pull the rug from under them.” -- Gough Whitlam, who gave the nod to the Indonesian government that Australia would not oppose the invasion of East Timor.
Justice horror
“The impact will be horrendous right across the broad spectrum of Australian industry.” -- Peter Bosa, director of scab specialist firm Troubleshooters Available, on federal government proposals to bring contractors under industrial relations law to stop them dodging sick pay, superannuation, health and safety and other responsibilities. Fair go for the Mafia!
“The NSW [ALP] right is the nearest thing this country has to the Mafia.” -- John Hewson in federal parliament, April 2.
