We must discard it while we are still capable of controlling it, not turn its descent into a roulette that threatens the entire global community.

When we conceived the Mir, we didn't think much about its end, the prospect seemed so distant and we had many other things to do,

The Mir has lived a wonderful life and must end it in a graceful way,

Nothing can last forever,

If there is a move on the part of anyone to discard this kind of voluntary labeling or to turn their backs on this because finally we're feeling compelled to put some teeth into the enforcement, I think we'd have to take a hard look at that.

I believed from the outset it was not going to be capable, given its narrow base, of being successful in the country,