"We must maintain our friendship forever"
At 6:30 I entered the banquet room, and at 11:30 I left. President Gorbachev came at 6:15 and left around 12:30.When I saw that the number of guests was dwindling, I approached the President. He immediately grabbed my hand. I said, “I have come to take leave of you and to ask for your blessings.” President Gorbachev said, “We must maintain this friendship forever, and I mean it. You know what is inside my heart. We must maintain our friendship forever.”
He was looking at me so soulfully, powerfully, intently and affectionately as he said these words.
This was the nineteenth time I had met with my most Beloved President Gorbachev since our first meeting in 1990. Our private meeting the day before at his Foundation was the eighteenth time.
Sri Chinmoy, Sri Chinmoy in Russia, Agni Press, 2001
