ABSTRACT
Mikhail Gorbachev obviously relished the new freedom that he had gained. Gorbachev shared his impressions of the meeting of the State Council with his foreign guests. With regard to the Arab countries, Gorbachev said that friendly relations with them would remain a cornerstone of the union's foreign policy. After winning his round with the State Council, Gorbachev unexpectedly decided to consolidate his advantage by making a long-planned but always postponed trip around the country. Gorbachev knew from experience that Yeltsin's rugged face would be seen on every television screen and front page. Much of Gorbachev's conversation with the journalists that night revolved around him personally. Reassured by the results of the last council meeting, Gorbachev considered the new treaty a done deal. Eduard Shevardnadze had made a dramatic exit in December 1990, predicting the advent of a conservative dictatorship for which Gorbachev would be indirectly responsible, or which he might even conspire to bring in.
