WEBVTT

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MINISTRY OF CULTURE
OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION

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RUSSIAN MILITARY HISTORY SOCIETY

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PRODUCTION COMPANY
CARGO-FILM

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The early 60s, the height of the cold war.

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The confrontation between the USSR
and the USA has reached maximum tension

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and threatens to turn
into an open conflict.

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In 1962, in response to the deployment
of American ballistic missiles in Turkey,

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the Soviet Union secretly brought
nuclear weapons to Cuba.

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October 14, 1962.

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In Cuba, American planes spot
Soviet ballistic rockets.

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President Kennedy puts
his military forces on alert

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and begins a naval siege of Cuba.

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The Pentagon develops a plan
to carry out airstrikes

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and prepare to invade Cuba.

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The NATO countries begin
large scale military exercises.

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In response, the forces of the USSR
and the Warsaw Pact

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declare a heightened state
of military readiness.

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The world is on the brink
of a nuclear catastrophe!

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At the last moment, Nikita Khrushchev
and John Kennedy reach an agreement

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on the conditions for the removal
of the Soviet rockets.

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The USA agrees not to attack Cuba
and to remove its rockets from Turkey.

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The USSR begins dismantling
its launch facilities

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and removing the rockets from Cuba,

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guaranteeing that the Americans
can make inspections

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not only in neutral waters,
but also on the territory of Cuba.

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It seems that the crisis has been averted.

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The threat of a nuclear conflict
has receded.

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That, as a rule, is where almost all films

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on the “hot” October of 1962 end.

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In fact, October was followed by November…

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There was another side in the conflict

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that didn’t take part
in the negotiations –

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Cuba.

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On October 28, Castro declares

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that Cuba will independently reach
an agreement

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that meets its interests.

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He reveals his five-point plan:

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the removal of the economic embargo;

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the end of the USA’s actions
aimed at undermining Cuba;

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an end to “pirate attacks”
from coastal bases;

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an end to violations of Cuba’s air space;

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the shutting down of the naval base
in Guantanamo.

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Castro categorically rejects
the agreement on inspections.

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Cuba is a sovereign state
that won’t be dictated by aggressors.

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What was to be done?

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The USA refuses to hold negotiations
with Cuba.

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At the same time, preparations
for military operations are continuing.

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The Soviet ballistic rockets
have been dismantled

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and an invasion can take place at any time.

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In this dead-end situation, Khrushchev
takes the only step possible:

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he sends someone he trusts to Cuba,
someone that Castro will trust.

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That man is a member of the Politburo,

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the Council of Ministers’ First Deputy
Chairman,

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Anastas Mikoyan.

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This experienced, subtle diplomat

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must convince Castro

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and pull the world back
from brink of nuclear conflict.

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He flies to Cuba

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with the legendary cameraman Roman Karmen,
who had filmed the war in Spain,

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the Second World War
and the Nuremburg Trials.

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And his son, Sergo,

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a future diplomat and historian.

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Mikoyan flies without knowing
his return date.

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He can only go home
when his mission has been accomplished.

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Whatever it takes, he has to find
a way out of the dead-end.

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A HISTORY OF AN ASSIGNMENT

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Mikoyan flies out of Moscow on October 31.

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His first stop is the USA.

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At the USSR offices at the UN,
on November 1,

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Anastas Mikoyan meets
the presidential adviser John McCloy

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and the US representative at the UN,
Adlai Stevenson.

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Secret. Item No. 4

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Recording of Comrade Mikoyan talking
with John McCloy and Adlai Stevenson

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Stevenson: I must tell you

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that we were very favorably impressed
by the speed

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with which Soviet officers
dismantled the missiles.

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McCloy: “I am struck by the speed
of assembling as well as disassembling.”

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Mikoyan: “Those who can assemble fast,
can also dismantle fast.

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Our military are men of discipline.

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But your blockade hampers
the withdrawal of the missiles.

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The “quarantine” turns itself
against your own interests.”

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McCloy: “We would gladly let your ships
pass in both directions,

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if they carry all your missiles away.

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I would like to be on the ship

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that will transport the last missiles
from Cuba.”

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Mikoyan: “So lift the “quarantine”
and everything will be in order.”

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McCloy: “Yes, but we can’t risk
some arms being withdrawn

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while other arms are being shipped in.”

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Stevenson: “As I understood,
Castro did not agree to UN inspections.”

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Mikoyan: “The government of Cuba
has a right of sovereignty

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and one must seek its agreement

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on any kind of inspection
on Cuban territory.”

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McCloy: “The position of Castro
represents an obstacle

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preventing the fulfilling of the commitments
formulated in Mr. Khrushchev’s letter.”

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Mikoyan: “Castro will not be an obstacle
to fulfillment of these commitments.”

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McCloy: “But he has 145,000 soldiers
against 10,000 Russians.

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He can obstruct dismantling.

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Moreover, I think he is already doing it.

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Will you be making a stop
in New York on your way back?”

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Mikoyan: “I have no definite plans
on this score,

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but I would not exclude such a stopover.”

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November 2 – Mikoyan flies out of New York.

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At the last moment, at the airbase,
he is given a letter:

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in their list of offensive weaponry

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the Americans “forgot” to include
Il-28 bombers.

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Mikoyan refuses to take the letter

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and asks the courier to tell whoever wrote it
that he “never laid eyes on it.”

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November 2.

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The plane lands
in Havana in the evening.

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Castro meets Mikoyan

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and, quickly agreeing to begin talks
the next day, leaves.

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November 3.

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Without having even started,
the talks suddenly break down.

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An urgent telegram is brought
from the Embassy.

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Telegram:

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“Dear Anastas Ivanovich,

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I have to inform you of sad news –

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today your wife, Ashkhen,
passed away unexpectedly.

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We express our warmest,
brotherly condolences

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concerning this great sorrow
for you and your family.

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I would like to ask your advice concerning
how we should proceed –

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will you come to Moscow now
to attend the funeral

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or will you allow us,
together with your sons, to organize it?

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N. Khrushchev,
Moscow, November 3, 1962”.

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The memoirs of Sergo,
son of Anastas Mikoyan:

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“Father is in his room, alone.

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I can’t bring myself to go to him.

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He calls me a couple of hours later.

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He is lying flat on his back
across a broad bed.

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His head is thrown back,

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he’s staring at the ceiling:

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“Mother died …

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You should go to Moscow to the funeral.”

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Sergo, Mikoyan’s son, flies to Moscow
to bury his mother.

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Difficult as it may be,
Mikoyan has to remain.

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There is too much at stake for him
to bid farewell to Ashkhen,

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his faithful wife.

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The talks are renewed the next day.

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Recording of a conversation between

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the First Deputy Chairman of the USSR
Council of Ministers A. I. Mikoyan

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and the Prime Minister of the Revolutionary
Government of Cuba, F. Castro.

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Mikoyan said that he was personally pleased
to carry out the instructions

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of the Central Committee
of the Communist Party

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because he knows Cuba, knows the leaders
of the Cuban revolution.

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Unfortunately, some differences of opinion
have arisen

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between the leadership of the Republic
of Cuba and our leadership.

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And now it seems to me
that it would be useful

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if you, Comrade Fidel Castro,
could tell me frankly

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what the issues are that worry you.

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Only by speaking frankly

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is it possible to assure complete confidence
and mutual understanding.

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In response Fidel Castro said

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that the Cuban leadership was glad to see
A. I. Mikoyan in Cuba once again.

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Regarding the questions
that caused some differences,

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I would like to say the following.

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In those days when a serious danger arose,

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our whole people sensed
a great responsibility

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for the fate of the Motherland.

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Every Cuban was ready to repel
the aggressors with arms in hand,

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and ready to devote their lives
to the defense of their country.

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It is difficult for us to understand
the reasons for the withdrawal

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of the Soviet strategic weapons.

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Has this question been adequately studied
and thought through?

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Mikoyan:

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“On 28 October we received reliable reports

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of preparations for an attack against Cuba.

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This assault would mean
an assault upon you and us.

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Inevitably, nuclear war would be unleashed
as a result of such a collision.

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Until the moment of the start of the USA
aggression against Cuba

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remained 10-12 hours.

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We had to use the art of diplomacy.

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Considering that the missiles
had been discovered

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and were no longer a means of deterrence

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we decided that for the sake of saving Cuba

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it was necessary to give an order
to dismantle

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and return the strategic missiles
to the Soviet Union.

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We see your readiness to die beautifully,

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but we believe that one should not die
even beautifully.

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Since Kennedy agreed to the retaining
of Soviet troops in Cuba,

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the Cubans kept powerful armaments
and anti-aircraft missiles,

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so we consider that he also made
a concession.

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The statement of Kennedy
about non-aggression against Cuba

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on the part of the USA
also represents a concession.

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There would not be an assault against Cuba.
There would not be a war.

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A major victory has been gained.”

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The conversation lasted seven hours,

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more than five hours of which were taken up
by Mikoyan’s explanations.

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The Cuban comrades listened
to Comrade Mikoyan attentively

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and maintained an atmosphere
of cordiality and trust.

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The next day the negotiations continued.

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Castro:

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“We have listened with great attention
to the information

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and explanations offered
by Comrade Mikoyan.

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We also completely agree
that war must be prevented.

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We understand that the circumstances
demanded urgent action.

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Assessing past events,
we have come to the conclusion

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that the discussion of these pressing issues
could be carried out in another form.

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The USA could have been told

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that the USSR was ready to dismantle
the equipment

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but would like to discuss it
with the Cuban government.

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In our opinion the issue should have been
solved in this way

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instead of immediately giving an order
to evacuate the strategic weapons.

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I would like to explain to Comrade Mikoyan

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that what I\'m saying reflects the decision
of the whole Cuban people.

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We will not give our consent for inspection.

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If our position imperils peace
in the whole world,

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then we would rather consider

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the Soviet side to be free
of its commitments

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and we would defend ourselves.

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Come what may.

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We have the right to defend our dignity.”

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Castro’s emotional statement
wasn’t only a shock to Mikoyan.

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Silence reigned in the room.

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It was eventually broken
by the Cuban President, Osvaldo Dorticos.

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“The statement voiced
by Comrade Fidel Castro

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reflects our common resoluteness

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and we believe that this issue
does not deserve further discussion.

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We can agree upon further meetings
through Ambassador Alekseev.”

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On the evening of the same day,
Mikoyan is informed

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that Fidel Castro is sick
and cannot continue the talks.

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The American newspapers write
about the difficulties in the talks

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between Mikoyan and Castro.

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Letter From President Kennedy

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to Chairman Khrushchev.

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Top secret.

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“Dear Mr. Chairman,

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You are, of course, aware
that Premier Castro

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has announced his opposition to measures
of verification on the territory of Cuba.

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If he maintains this position

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this would raise very serious problems.

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Sincerely,
John F. Kennedy”

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The halt in the talks stretches on.

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For three days, as all countries
nervously watch

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what is happening in Cuba,

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Mikoyan is taken round the country

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and shown the successes
of the national economy.

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November 8.

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Mikoyan and Castro inspect the premises

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where cows are milked
using the latest cutting edge technology.

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November 9 – a trip to Varadero Resort.

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November 10 – a trip to Playa-Giron.

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Mikoyan and the officials accompanying him
visit a village on the shore of the ocean

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where the interventionists landed in 1961.

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They look at the remains
of the American bomber

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shot down by Cuban pilots in April of 1961.

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In the meantime, the USA continues to work

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on expanding the list
of “offensive weaponry”.

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The Il-28 bomber is next in line.

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Those same references
that Mikoyan tried to avoid in his talks.

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11 November, Sunday.

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Telegram from Khrushchev to Mikoyan.

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“In connection with the last letter
from President Kennedy,

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we are informing you
about our considerations.

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We discussed these issues before

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and reached the conclusion

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that it would be reasonable
to act as follows —

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to agree to the removal
of all Il-28s from Cuba.

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We would like to know your opinion,
as by now you are almost like Cuban.”

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Mikoyan to Khrushchev, November 11, 1962.

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“Considering the character of our friends
and their state of mind,

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this issue will hurt them.”

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November 12

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Mikoyan:

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“I would like to discuss with you,
Comrade Fidel, one of the important issues.

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We are interested
in the most rapid resolution

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of the existing conflict in favor of Cuba.

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Our country has fulfilled its obligations,

00:20:20.360 --> 00:20:23.240
although the Americans
have not removed the quarantine.

00:20:23.360 --> 00:20:25.120
They are looking for catches

00:20:25.240 --> 00:20:29.760
and are trying to find reasons not to keep
the promises Kennedy gave to Khrushchev.

00:20:30.600 --> 00:20:34.320
We believed that the agreement
only referred to missiles,

00:20:34.560 --> 00:20:37.280
but in the opinion of the USA,
there is also the question

00:20:37.400 --> 00:20:39.080
of the Il-28 bombers.

00:20:40.840 --> 00:20:44.440
They are stating that we have not fulfilled
our obligations

00:20:44.680 --> 00:20:49.480
and believe they are right
to refuse to keep their promises

00:20:49.600 --> 00:20:51.000
to remove the quarantine

00:20:51.200 --> 00:20:53.440
and provide guarantees against invasion.

00:20:54.720 --> 00:20:58.040
At this juncture, it seems to me
that we must be free from the power

00:20:58.160 --> 00:21:00.120
of all feelings, even the most noble,

00:21:00.240 --> 00:21:02.960
and after soberly and
calmly thinking everything through,

00:21:03.080 --> 00:21:05.960
take the decision that will be
to Cuba’s advantage.”

00:21:08.720 --> 00:21:09.880
Castro:

00:21:10.000 --> 00:21:11.960
“Why are these arguments being cited?

00:21:12.080 --> 00:21:15.080
You should say outright
what the Soviet government wants.”

00:21:16.680 --> 00:21:17.880
Mikoyan:

00:21:18.320 --> 00:21:22.160
“If we resolve the matter of removing
the Il-28s from Cuba,

00:21:22.400 --> 00:21:25.720
we will thus disarm the United States
of the formal argument

00:21:25.880 --> 00:21:27.760
that it is trying to exploit.

00:21:28.240 --> 00:21:29.720
With regard to other means,

00:21:29.840 --> 00:21:32.720
we will give the Americans a complete
and decisive rebuff.”

00:21:34.200 --> 00:21:39.400
Castro: “And then they will raise the issue
of inspecting Cuban territory?”

00:21:40.120 --> 00:21:41.280
Mikoyan:

00:21:41.560 --> 00:21:45.400
“We could agree to such inspections
of the ships

00:21:45.640 --> 00:21:47.800
carrying the missiles out of Cuba.

00:21:48.000 --> 00:21:52.080
Of course, the Americans would like
to carry out inspections on Cuban territory,

00:21:52.320 --> 00:21:54.760
but we respect the Cuban position

00:21:54.960 --> 00:21:58.960
and will never permit
a unilateral inspection of Cuban territory.”

00:21:59.200 --> 00:22:02.080
Castro: “I would like to note,
Comrade Mikoyan,

00:22:02.280 --> 00:22:04.640
that we will never permit an inspection.

00:22:04.760 --> 00:22:06.920
I ask you to convey to the Soviet government

00:22:07.160 --> 00:22:10.840
that this is our final decision
and cannot be reviewed.

00:22:12.960 --> 00:22:15.880
I will be meeting now with the rest
of the members of the leadership

00:22:16.040 --> 00:22:17.960
in order to discuss this question,

00:22:19.720 --> 00:22:22.200
although I do not see
any special reason to hurry.”

00:22:29.280 --> 00:22:31.800
N.S. Khrushchev to A. I. Mikoyan. Secret.

00:22:32.840 --> 00:22:35.600
“I’ve looked at the summary
of the conversation

00:22:35.720 --> 00:22:37.240
that you had with Fidel.

00:22:38.360 --> 00:22:41.040
You are in a difficult position,
but what can be done?

00:22:41.280 --> 00:22:44.120
Enlighten – there is no other option…

00:22:45.320 --> 00:22:47.080
It seems that is enough for now.

00:22:47.200 --> 00:22:48.600
We wish you success!

00:22:49.000 --> 00:22:50.320
N.S. Khrushchev.”

00:22:57.840 --> 00:23:00.760
November 13, 1962.
Conversation between Mikoyan and Castro.

00:23:00.880 --> 00:23:02.160
Castro:

00:23:03.080 --> 00:23:06.920
“We basically did not agree
with the removal of strategic missiles,

00:23:07.160 --> 00:23:11.600
just as we disagree with the removal
of Il-28 bombers from Cuba.

00:23:12.040 --> 00:23:15.080
These measures create
a difficult situation for us.

00:23:15.560 --> 00:23:18.760
They undermine our sovereign right
to determine for ourselves

00:23:18.960 --> 00:23:23.240
what type of weapons we can have,
and what agreements we can make.

00:23:24.720 --> 00:23:26.720
Our position is as follows:

00:23:26.920 --> 00:23:29.120
tie the removal of the naval blockage

00:23:29.320 --> 00:23:32.280
and the cessation of the violation
of Cuban airspace

00:23:32.480 --> 00:23:34.600
to the withdrawal of Il-28 bombers.

00:23:37.320 --> 00:23:41.240
Without these requirements,
we cannot give our consent.

00:23:41.880 --> 00:23:43.440
The Americans are insolent.

00:23:43.680 --> 00:23:46.640
They make shaving flights
over Cuban territory,

00:23:46.880 --> 00:23:52.000
flying at 100 meters
over our military bases and units.

00:23:52.920 --> 00:23:57.880
All that remains is for American planes
to land on our territory to refuel.

00:24:00.760 --> 00:24:04.480
We think that after the strategic missiles
were removed from Cuba,

00:24:04.600 --> 00:24:06.880
we can no longer allow this to go on.

00:24:09.080 --> 00:24:13.720
We decided to write
to the secretary-general U. Thant

00:24:14.280 --> 00:24:18.520
that all the planes
making shaving flights over Cuba

00:24:19.480 --> 00:24:20.960
will be shot down!”

00:26:20.200 --> 00:26:21.920
November 14,

00:26:22.240 --> 00:26:26.480
Telegram from Soviet Ambassador to the USA
Dobrynin to USSR Foreign Ministry.

00:26:27.400 --> 00:26:30.040
“Robert Kennedy stated
that the USA government

00:26:30.160 --> 00:26:32.560
would not cease its flights over Cuba

00:26:32.680 --> 00:26:35.880
in circumstances in which he had
no other guarantees

00:26:36.080 --> 00:26:39.480
that the government of Cuba
would carry out its end of the agreement.

00:26:41.040 --> 00:26:44.000
Mr. Mikoyan\'s long stay in Cuba shows

00:26:44.280 --> 00:26:47.680
that Premier Castro does not want
to approve the agreement

00:26:48.280 --> 00:26:52.400
reached between the President and the head
of the Soviet government on such guarantees.

00:26:52.640 --> 00:26:55.880
We understand the circumstances
that have been created,

00:26:56.680 --> 00:27:00.040
but this does not relieve the difficulties
of our position.”

00:27:00.880 --> 00:27:04.200
Message From President Kennedy

00:27:04.440 --> 00:27:07.280
to Chairman Khrushchev.

00:27:08.360 --> 00:27:11.520
Washington, November 15, 1962.

00:27:13.640 --> 00:27:16.760
“I am glad to learn of your assurance
of agreement

00:27:16.960 --> 00:27:19.840
that the Il-28s should be withdrawn.

00:27:20.720 --> 00:27:24.560
All that remains is to reach
an understanding on the timing.

00:27:25.640 --> 00:27:27.720
I cannot agree with your statement

00:27:27.960 --> 00:27:32.360
that you have fulfilled your commitments
and that we have not fulfilled ours.

00:27:33.120 --> 00:27:36.560
You have removed a certain number
of missiles from Cuba,

00:27:36.760 --> 00:27:38.760
but without verification

00:27:38.960 --> 00:27:41.480
that other missiles were not left behind.

00:27:41.920 --> 00:27:45.920
Thus, three major parts
of the undertakings on your side—

00:27:46.200 --> 00:27:48.640
the removal of the Il-28’s,

00:27:48.840 --> 00:27:50.680
the arrangements for verification,

00:27:50.880 --> 00:27:55.240
and safeguards against introduction—
have not yet been carried out.

00:27:55.440 --> 00:28:00.200
We suppose that part of the trouble
here may be in Cuba.

00:28:01.880 --> 00:28:05.720
We both have means of influencing
the Cuban government

00:28:06.800 --> 00:28:08.800
and I do not believe that we can allow

00:28:09.000 --> 00:28:11.680
that government to frustrate
the clear understandings

00:28:11.880 --> 00:28:15.520
our two governments have reached
in the interests of peace.”

00:28:20.040 --> 00:28:23.400
N.S. Khrushchev to A. I. Mikoyan.

00:28:24.160 --> 00:28:27.840
“We are sending you Kennedy’s
confidential oral reply

00:28:28.040 --> 00:28:30.720
to our oral confidential message.

00:28:33.720 --> 00:28:35.520
From this letter, you can see

00:28:35.720 --> 00:28:40.760
that Kennedy has agreed to our assurance
regarding the removal of the Il-28s.

00:28:41.800 --> 00:28:45.960
If we give Kennedy this assurance,
then he will immediately lift the quarantine.

00:28:46.800 --> 00:28:49.840
We regret that we did not find
any understanding

00:28:50.040 --> 00:28:52.520
on the part of the Cuban government.

00:28:52.960 --> 00:28:56.680
Moreover, the Cuban government
has publicly announced

00:28:57.080 --> 00:28:59.040
that it does not agree with the steps

00:28:59.280 --> 00:29:04.040
we are trying to take
in the interests of Cuba.

00:29:04.960 --> 00:29:08.320
If the Cuban comrades do not want
to cooperate with us on this issue

00:29:08.560 --> 00:29:11.160
and do not want to take measures

00:29:11.400 --> 00:29:13.920
that would help us resolve this issue

00:29:14.160 --> 00:29:16.720
and avoid being pulled into a war
together with us,

00:29:16.960 --> 00:29:19.840
then apparently the conclusion that we see

00:29:20.000 --> 00:29:24.960
is that our presence in Cuba
is not helpful for our friends now.

00:29:27.160 --> 00:29:29.640
Then let them state that openly

00:29:29.880 --> 00:29:33.680
and we will have to reach conclusions
for ourselves.”

00:29:43.680 --> 00:29:47.280
Fidel Castro, learning that Khrushchev
had already agreed

00:29:47.400 --> 00:29:49.200
to remove the bombers

00:29:49.320 --> 00:29:52.040
without gaining any concessions
from the USA,

00:29:52.240 --> 00:29:55.160
abandons the talks
and disappears from Havana.

00:29:56.680 --> 00:29:59.960
Mikoyan tries to find out
what’s going on, but to no end…

00:30:00.680 --> 00:30:04.040
From a conversation between Mikoyan
and a member of the national leadership,

00:30:04.160 --> 00:30:05.720
Carlos Rodriguez:

00:30:06.960 --> 00:30:09.440
“I had a difficult time getting
through those two days

00:30:09.560 --> 00:30:10.920
when there were no meetings.

00:30:11.040 --> 00:30:12.520
It was a real moral trial.

00:30:12.720 --> 00:30:16.360
I want to meet with our comrades
and help them understand our position,

00:30:16.560 --> 00:30:18.520
but I am afraid of meddling.

00:30:18.720 --> 00:30:21.880
They will say: The old man is teaching us
how to understand things.

00:30:22.840 --> 00:30:24.800
How can we meet more frequently?

00:30:24.920 --> 00:30:27.320
I do not need to relax, I am healthy.

00:30:27.840 --> 00:30:30.040
I am ready for meetings day and night.

00:30:30.400 --> 00:30:33.880
Tell me, with whom, and when,
can I request a meeting?”

00:30:36.680 --> 00:30:40.440
In order to get out of the dead-end,
Mikoyan resorts to cunning.

00:30:41.040 --> 00:30:43.120
He visits Raul Castro one evening

00:30:43.320 --> 00:30:47.720
and casually slips into the conversation
that he intends to return to Moscow.

00:30:48.080 --> 00:30:51.520
As there are no talks,
there is no point in him remaining.

00:30:51.640 --> 00:30:54.200
They will send someone else later.

00:30:57.000 --> 00:30:58.400
The trick works.

00:30:58.520 --> 00:31:03.040
The next day, in the evening, Castro attends
a reception at the Soviet Embassy.

00:31:07.760 --> 00:31:11.240
Ciphered Telegram from Mikoyan,
Top Secret.

00:31:13.120 --> 00:31:17.120
“On November 15, as I already reported,
Ambassador Alekseyev held a dinner.

00:31:18.160 --> 00:31:21.720
Fidel Castro said that he was worried

00:31:21.840 --> 00:31:24.640
by the report that I would be leaving.”

00:31:25.200 --> 00:31:29.240
“Who, if not you, and only you,
can carry out this mission!

00:31:29.560 --> 00:31:32.960
If you cannot do this, then it proves
that this is totally impossible.

00:31:33.960 --> 00:31:37.160
We share with you an old,
strong friendship and trust.

00:31:38.520 --> 00:31:42.120
I told the Cuban comrades
that our government hopes

00:31:42.280 --> 00:31:46.640
that following the agreement in principle
about the removal of the Il-28 planes

00:31:46.760 --> 00:31:49.080
the Americans would at once
remove the blockade,

00:31:49.200 --> 00:31:52.000
and would also put a stop
to flying over Cuba.”

00:31:53.320 --> 00:31:57.000
Fidel Castro expressed satisfaction
on the direction of these negotiations,

00:31:57.200 --> 00:32:00.600
but noted that the issue of the flights
of the American planes

00:32:00.840 --> 00:32:04.240
should not be linked to the removal
of the Il-28 bombers:

00:32:05.240 --> 00:32:07.080
“I could not tolerate it anymore,

00:32:07.200 --> 00:32:09.760
and dropped in today
on the anti-aircraft gunners,

00:32:09.960 --> 00:32:13.080
I told them that on Sunday
or perhaps Saturday

00:32:13.280 --> 00:32:16.440
we will open fire
on any American war planes.”

00:32:20.360 --> 00:32:25.320
I said that through confidential channels
we were bringing an end to the flights.

00:32:25.880 --> 00:32:27.480
Fidel interrupted me and said

00:32:27.600 --> 00:32:30.200
he had already given
the antiaircraft gunners their orders

00:32:30.320 --> 00:32:32.520
and “could not revoke his own decision.”

00:32:35.880 --> 00:32:38.840
Before the departure of our Cuban comrades
I turned to him and asked

00:32:39.040 --> 00:32:42.200
if, in the future, my stay in Cuba
would be a burden to him.

00:32:43.000 --> 00:32:44.600
He embraced me and said

00:32:44.840 --> 00:32:47.880
that I must not offend him
with such words.”

00:32:59.520 --> 00:33:02.640
November 18, Soviet Foreign Minister
Gromyko to Mikoyan.

00:33:02.760 --> 00:33:04.240
Top Secret.

00:33:05.920 --> 00:33:08.560
“I am transmitting instructions
from the Authorities.

00:33:08.800 --> 00:33:13.120
If our Cuban friends address you
in reference to their decision

00:33:13.400 --> 00:33:15.640
on firing at American planes,

00:33:15.960 --> 00:33:18.040
then they should be told the following:

00:33:18.160 --> 00:33:22.200
In view of the fact that this decision
was not submitted to our approval,

00:33:22.320 --> 00:33:25.520
we do not consider it possible
to take part in this.

00:33:26.240 --> 00:33:29.360
For this reason, we have given instructions
to our military men

00:33:29.560 --> 00:33:32.440
not to open fire on American planes.”

00:33:41.400 --> 00:33:44.560
November 19, 1962.

00:33:45.800 --> 00:33:49.240
After mutual greetings,
Fidel Castro turned to Mikoyan

00:33:49.440 --> 00:33:52.960
and asked how he and his companions
spent Sunday.

00:33:54.000 --> 00:33:57.600
Mikoyan responded that they all
had a good swim, even twice,

00:33:57.720 --> 00:34:00.120
and that the water here
even in the winter is warmer

00:34:00.240 --> 00:34:02.280
than the Black Sea in the summer.

00:34:02.880 --> 00:34:04.040
Mikoyan said

00:34:04.240 --> 00:34:08.120
that during the confidential negotiations
through intermediaries in Washington,

00:34:08.240 --> 00:34:11.440
it became known that Kennedy
was ready to lift the quarantine

00:34:11.560 --> 00:34:14.080
immediately after receiving
Khrushchev’s consent

00:34:14.200 --> 00:34:16.560
on the withdrawal of Il-28s from Cuba.

00:34:17.440 --> 00:34:18.640
Mikoyan:

00:34:19.240 --> 00:34:24.880
“If we can get the UN to affirm
Kennedy’s obligation not to invade Cuba,

00:34:25.480 --> 00:34:28.800
then we will bind the Americans’ hands
and feet,

00:34:29.120 --> 00:34:31.560
we will force them to move
onto the defensive.”

00:34:31.800 --> 00:34:34.600
Castro: “We are not satisfied
with the guarantees

00:34:34.760 --> 00:34:37.120
that were presented in Kennedy’s letter.

00:34:37.400 --> 00:34:41.680
We cannot accept inspection groups
in exchange for these promises.

00:34:42.240 --> 00:34:45.800
I deeply despise
formal American guarantees!

00:34:46.240 --> 00:34:48.760
I do not want any cult
of these guarantees!

00:34:49.000 --> 00:34:50.480
I have one more issue.

00:34:50.600 --> 00:34:53.000
If Kennedy speaks from a position of force,

00:34:53.120 --> 00:34:55.480
we will find ourselves
in a difficult situation.

00:34:55.600 --> 00:34:59.520
He could make insulting,
humiliating remarks,

00:34:59.920 --> 00:35:02.720
he could try to turn us into a dirty rag!”

00:35:03.480 --> 00:35:06.640
Mikoyan: “Of course, they are bastards.”

00:35:06.880 --> 00:35:10.840
F. Castro: “More than that, I would say
that they are sons of bitches.”

00:35:11.120 --> 00:35:13.080
A. I. Mikoyan: “I agree.

00:35:13.520 --> 00:35:17.120
But I think that his speech
will not be blatant.”

00:35:27.000 --> 00:35:31.160
November 20, J. Kennedy
in an address to the nation states

00:35:31.400 --> 00:35:33.720
that the blockade has been lifted

00:35:33.920 --> 00:35:37.320
and that flights at low altitude
have been halted.

00:35:40.080 --> 00:35:42.840
Message From President Kennedy

00:35:43.040 --> 00:35:46.720
to Chairman Khrushchev.

00:35:47.120 --> 00:35:48.400
Confidentially.

00:35:49.640 --> 00:35:51.920
“Dear Mr. Chairman:

00:35:52.280 --> 00:35:53.880
As you will have seen,

00:35:54.000 --> 00:35:56.680
I was able to announce the lifting
of our quarantine promptly

00:35:56.880 --> 00:35:58.280
at my press conference,

00:35:58.520 --> 00:36:00.520
on the basis of your welcome assurance

00:36:00.720 --> 00:36:05.200
that the Il-28 bombers will be removed
within a month.

00:36:06.600 --> 00:36:10.600
I am now instructing our negotiators
in New York

00:36:10.800 --> 00:36:12.680
to move ahead promptly with proposals

00:36:12.800 --> 00:36:15.800
for a solution of the remaining elements
in the Cuban problem.

00:36:16.080 --> 00:36:19.360
I regret that you have been unable
to persuade Mr. Castro

00:36:19.560 --> 00:36:22.360
to accept a suitable form
of inspection in Cuba,

00:36:22.600 --> 00:36:27.960
and we must continue to rely
upon our own means of information.

00:36:28.400 --> 00:36:30.400
But, as I said yesterday,

00:36:30.640 --> 00:36:33.760
there need be no fear
of any invasion of Cuba

00:36:33.960 --> 00:36:38.160
while matters take
their present favorable course.”

00:36:49.680 --> 00:36:52.360
On the next day, November 22,

00:36:52.560 --> 00:36:55.800
Mikoyan received another letter
from Khrushchev.

00:36:57.000 --> 00:37:01.480
“Just one last story,
and my chronicle is over.”

00:37:01.760 --> 00:37:05.200
Of course you already know
that Kennedy kept his word

00:37:05.320 --> 00:37:06.800
and removed the blockade.

00:37:06.960 --> 00:37:08.560
In addition, he gave an order

00:37:08.800 --> 00:37:11.800
to reduce the state of alert
for the American armed forces.

00:37:12.040 --> 00:37:16.280
As such, we have created all conditions
for the world community to understand

00:37:16.800 --> 00:37:20.800
that we consider the Cuban crisis
to be a closed chapter.

00:37:21.480 --> 00:37:23.640
However, not everything has been finalized.

00:37:24.000 --> 00:37:27.840
We read, of course,
all of your conversations…

00:37:28.600 --> 00:37:30.720
It was necessary for us to read them.

00:37:30.960 --> 00:37:35.280
But, and you obviously do not take offense
when we tell you the truth,

00:37:35.600 --> 00:37:37.960
this did not give us much pleasure.

00:37:38.640 --> 00:37:43.040
Still, I repeat, we are very satisfied
with the mission that fell on you.

00:37:43.800 --> 00:37:45.720
This mission is difficult,

00:37:45.920 --> 00:37:49.040
to give explanations for such matters
which, it would seem,

00:37:49.200 --> 00:37:51.280
should be understood by friends.

00:37:51.840 --> 00:37:54.640
That is to say, these matters
were not understood

00:37:54.880 --> 00:37:58.400
as they should have been
by those you spoke with.

00:37:58.720 --> 00:38:02.920
If they now correctly understand them
and will reach the correct conclusions,

00:38:03.040 --> 00:38:05.680
then there will have already been
a benefit from this.

00:38:07.200 --> 00:38:10.800
We now consider your departure
from Cuba possible.

00:38:11.280 --> 00:38:14.400
Choose a time yourself.
We\'re not rushing you.

00:38:15.720 --> 00:38:17.640
We think you can return

00:38:17.760 --> 00:38:19.960
by the same route through New York

00:38:20.440 --> 00:38:24.800
so that you can have a meeting
with U. Thant, McCloy, and Stevenson…

00:38:25.560 --> 00:38:27.640
We think all of this is useful.

00:38:28.240 --> 00:38:31.880
And we\'re being told that if you come
to Washington,

00:38:32.160 --> 00:38:35.360
a meeting with the President
isn\'t out of the question.

00:38:36.680 --> 00:38:40.680
Greetings from all the comrades.
We are waiting for you in Moscow.”

00:38:47.600 --> 00:38:49.480
At the invitation of Raul Castro,

00:38:49.640 --> 00:38:54.640
Mikoyan spends the last three days
at his home in Santiago-de-Cuba.

00:39:44.560 --> 00:39:48.360
On November 25,
the day before his departure,

00:39:48.600 --> 00:39:51.680
Fidel joins Mikoyan’s conversation
with Raul.

00:39:52.760 --> 00:39:54.440
In answer to Mikoyan’s question

00:39:54.560 --> 00:39:57.800
as to what he should pass on
to Khrushchev, Castro answers:

00:39:58.240 --> 00:40:00.880
“Tell him we were saddened,

00:40:01.440 --> 00:40:03.160
we were disappointed,

00:40:03.400 --> 00:40:05.600
but we are together with you.”

00:41:26.280 --> 00:41:28.720
The main issue remaining unresolved

00:41:28.920 --> 00:41:32.840
is Castro’s rejection of any inspections.

00:41:34.480 --> 00:41:36.920
Now Mikoyan must convince Kennedy

00:41:37.160 --> 00:41:40.160
that the American flights over Soviet ships

00:41:40.360 --> 00:41:43.400
and aerial photography of the dismantlement
of the launchers

00:41:43.520 --> 00:41:45.400
provide sufficient control

00:41:45.720 --> 00:41:48.520
and that there is no need for inspections.

00:41:55.800 --> 00:41:59.760
November 29, 1962, Washington.

00:42:00.160 --> 00:42:03.000
Conversation between J. Kennedy
and A. I. Mikoyan.

00:42:03.840 --> 00:42:06.800
After an exchange of greetings,
Kennedy asks Mikoyan

00:42:07.000 --> 00:42:09.600
about his impressions of the trip to Cuba.

00:42:09.920 --> 00:42:13.560
Mikoyan replies that he came away
with excellent impressions —

00:42:13.680 --> 00:42:15.400
that Cuba is a beautiful island,

00:42:15.520 --> 00:42:17.920
and that the Cubans
are very interesting people

00:42:18.040 --> 00:42:20.520
who are enthusiastically
building a new life.

00:42:23.400 --> 00:42:27.640
Mikoyan notes that from numerous meetings
he got the impression

00:42:27.840 --> 00:42:31.320
that Cubans have a quite natural distrust
of the United States

00:42:31.520 --> 00:42:34.200
based on their bitter experience,

00:42:34.320 --> 00:42:36.360
and openly express it.

00:42:39.440 --> 00:42:44.440
Kennedy agrees that relations between Cuba
and the United States are not satisfactory,

00:42:44.920 --> 00:42:47.520
and the United States is worried

00:42:47.720 --> 00:42:50.640
that Cuba is turning into a springboard
for Soviet politics

00:42:50.840 --> 00:42:53.480
aimed at undermining Latin America.

00:42:54.880 --> 00:42:56.120
Kennedy:

00:42:56.520 --> 00:42:59.880
“Last summer, Cuba started
a military buildup.

00:43:00.720 --> 00:43:03.240
Hundreds of Soviet ships
with weapons appeared there,

00:43:03.440 --> 00:43:05.520
and in the end even missiles.

00:43:06.000 --> 00:43:08.400
And precisely at that same time,
we received assurances

00:43:08.520 --> 00:43:09.800
from Chairman Khrushchev

00:43:09.920 --> 00:43:12.920
that there were no offensive weapons
in Cuba.

00:43:13.360 --> 00:43:15.760
How is it possible
after all that to guarantee

00:43:15.960 --> 00:43:18.400
that such weapons won’t be sent back there?”

00:43:19.520 --> 00:43:22.400
Mikoyan says that the goal
of the Soviet government,

00:43:22.520 --> 00:43:25.160
including in this conversation
he is having with Kennedy,

00:43:25.280 --> 00:43:27.880
is to find ways to improve
mutual understanding

00:43:28.000 --> 00:43:30.080
between the USSR and the United States,

00:43:30.280 --> 00:43:34.400
thereby strengthening peace
in the whole world.

00:43:36.040 --> 00:43:39.840
Kennedy states that the Soviet Union
has already removed missiles from Cuba

00:43:40.040 --> 00:43:42.400
and that soon it will remove the bombers.

00:43:42.640 --> 00:43:46.000
He also hopes that the troops
stationed for the defense of the missiles

00:43:46.120 --> 00:43:47.840
will be withdrawn, too.

00:43:48.800 --> 00:43:51.520
Mikoyan says that the President is mistaken;

00:43:51.720 --> 00:43:53.680
we will withdraw no more and no less

00:43:53.880 --> 00:43:57.240
than what was listed
by Khrushchev in his letter.

00:43:58.360 --> 00:44:01.960
Kennedy says, you know
that we would not attack Cuba,

00:44:02.080 --> 00:44:04.560
but you want some public assurance
in this regard.

00:44:04.680 --> 00:44:07.360
However, we must assure the people
of the Western Hemisphere

00:44:07.480 --> 00:44:09.200
that they have every guarantee

00:44:09.400 --> 00:44:12.720
that missiles will not be transferred
to Cuba once again.

00:44:13.040 --> 00:44:17.400
I know that you and Castro
are against our flights over Cuban territory,

00:44:17.680 --> 00:44:20.640
but we need to have satisfactory
means of verification.

00:44:22.240 --> 00:44:25.760
Mikoyan says that the numerous
and frequent low-altitude flights

00:44:25.960 --> 00:44:28.480
were simply hooliganism

00:44:28.760 --> 00:44:31.080
and the current flights
are also hooliganism,

00:44:31.320 --> 00:44:33.280
only at greater altitudes.

00:44:33.840 --> 00:44:36.680
Kennedy: “I want to be sure

00:44:36.880 --> 00:44:40.160
that the American people
will not be made fools of again.

00:44:40.960 --> 00:44:43.280
How can I know that there are
no missiles in Cuba

00:44:43.400 --> 00:44:45.760
and that they are not still being imported?”

00:44:47.400 --> 00:44:51.000
Mikoyan: “I conclude that,
contrary to our position,

00:44:51.120 --> 00:44:55.000
which is to complete the mutual settlement
of the Cuban crisis as soon as possible,

00:44:55.120 --> 00:44:57.560
the United States does not want
to put out the fire

00:44:57.680 --> 00:44:59.920
and wants to avoid
concluding the agreement.”

00:45:00.880 --> 00:45:05.040
Kennedy notes that his interpreter
must have misinterpreted his meaning.

00:45:05.880 --> 00:45:08.280
Mikoyan says, that is what he thought too.

00:45:08.480 --> 00:45:10.360
We agreed to the declarations.

00:45:10.600 --> 00:45:15.240
It’s possible that the parties will make
additional statements on certain issues,

00:45:15.560 --> 00:45:19.480
but the declarations must include
what was in the correspondence.

00:45:19.960 --> 00:45:23.440
You can make declarations
on what wasn’t included wherever you like.

00:45:24.600 --> 00:45:29.800
Kennedy then asks whether Khrushchev
would agree to wording along the lines of:

00:45:30.400 --> 00:45:32.440
“This commitment will no longer be valid

00:45:32.680 --> 00:45:37.680
if nuclear weapons are brought into Cuba
by China or any other country.”

00:45:38.600 --> 00:45:41.240
Mikoyan says that this is
a completely different issue,

00:45:41.440 --> 00:45:43.520
and does not have anything to do with us.

00:45:44.120 --> 00:45:47.520
Kennedy notes that Mikoyan
spent a lot of time in Cuba,

00:45:47.760 --> 00:45:51.480
but to him, Kennedy,
he is giving very little time.

00:45:52.520 --> 00:45:56.280
Mikoyan says that he agrees with the spirit
of the President’s statements,

00:45:56.520 --> 00:46:00.120
but has to point out that the United States
is attempting to raise other questions

00:46:00.240 --> 00:46:02.840
without having reached an agreement
on the main issue.

00:46:03.600 --> 00:46:05.360
Mikoyan asks Kennedy:

00:46:05.640 --> 00:46:07.880
“What can I report to Khrushchev?

00:46:08.240 --> 00:46:10.800
Does the U.S. government still adhere
to the language

00:46:11.000 --> 00:46:13.880
contained in the correspondence or not?”

00:46:14.680 --> 00:46:17.600
Kennedy replies that the United States
will not depart from the position

00:46:17.840 --> 00:46:19.280
expounded in the messages,

00:46:19.480 --> 00:46:22.720
and he hopes that the Soviet Union
will do the same.

00:46:23.840 --> 00:46:27.120
In the conversation’s conclusion,
Mikoyan conveys greetings

00:46:27.360 --> 00:46:30.240
and best wishes of health to Kennedy
from Khrushchev.

00:46:30.920 --> 00:46:33.200
Kennedy thanks him for the good wishes

00:46:33.320 --> 00:46:37.680
and asks Mikoyan to convey
his best wishes to Khrushchev.

00:47:33.080 --> 00:47:38.000
EPILOGUE

00:47:40.760 --> 00:47:43.200
A year after the events described,

00:47:44.000 --> 00:47:47.520
on November 22, 1963,

00:47:47.720 --> 00:47:51.440
US President John Fitzgerald Kennedy,
will be killed

00:47:51.600 --> 00:47:53.840
during an election campaign trip.

00:47:58.120 --> 00:48:01.120
His death will shock the entire world.

00:48:02.000 --> 00:48:05.320
It will later become known
that on the eve of the assassination,

00:48:05.560 --> 00:48:08.440
through intermediaries,
secret negotiations were underway

00:48:08.640 --> 00:48:10.960
concerning a possible meeting with Castro

00:48:11.160 --> 00:48:14.960
and the reestablishment of relations
between the USA and Cuba.

00:48:17.160 --> 00:48:19.720
The Communist Party Central Committee
First Secretary

00:48:19.840 --> 00:48:23.440
and the USSR Council of Ministers
Chairman Nikita Khrushchev

00:48:24.000 --> 00:48:28.240
will be removed from all of his posts
in October of 1964.

00:48:29.520 --> 00:48:33.800
One of the mistakes he will be accused of
is the Cuban misadventure.

00:48:35.480 --> 00:48:41.320
He will be pensioned off and die in 1971.

00:48:50.360 --> 00:48:53.840
Fidel Castro, in the spring of 1963,

00:48:54.400 --> 00:48:56.200
will visit the Soviet Union.

00:48:57.840 --> 00:49:01.200
He will spend a day visiting Mikoyan.

00:49:02.320 --> 00:49:06.680
The old acquaintances will have talks
in an unofficial, homely setting,

00:49:07.120 --> 00:49:08.720
surrounded by children

00:49:08.960 --> 00:49:12.080
and a huge number of grandsons
and granddaughters.

00:49:13.560 --> 00:49:17.480
Fidel Castro will carry on ruling Cuba
for almost half a century,

00:49:17.680 --> 00:49:22.400
passing on the leadership
to his brother Raul in 2006.

00:49:23.200 --> 00:49:27.440
He will die aged 91 in 2016.

00:49:28.440 --> 00:49:31.720
Only one word will be written
on his grave:

00:49:32.720 --> 00:49:33.880
Fidel.

00:49:35.560 --> 00:49:39.720
Anastas Mikoyan will remain in politics
after Khrushchev,

00:49:40.480 --> 00:49:43.640
under a new First Secretary,
Leonid Brezhnev.

00:49:43.880 --> 00:49:48.000
He will be the only state figure
in the USSR

00:49:48.200 --> 00:49:50.920
to hang on under so many different leaders.

00:49:52.320 --> 00:49:54.760
Having begun his career under Lenin,

00:49:55.000 --> 00:49:59.960
he survived Stalin, and continued working
under Khrushchev and Brezhnev.

00:50:01.440 --> 00:50:04.440
Mikoyan will retire in 1965

00:50:04.800 --> 00:50:09.480
and die, surrounded by his family, in 1978.

00:50:12.280 --> 00:50:15.640
The texts of his talks with Fidel Castro
and John Kennedy

00:50:15.760 --> 00:50:17.720
and his correspondence with Khrushchev

00:50:17.840 --> 00:50:20.560
will remain classified as secret
for many years.

00:50:20.800 --> 00:50:23.000
The details of his trip,

00:50:23.200 --> 00:50:26.440
which brought an end
to the Cuban Missile Crisis,

00:50:26.600 --> 00:50:29.160
will only be revealed much later.

00:50:35.040 --> 00:50:40.000
SCREENWRITER AND DIRECTOR
VLADIMIR NEPEVNY

00:50:40.280 --> 00:50:42.320
VOICES
VALERY KUKHARESHIN

00:50:42.440 --> 00:50:45.040
ILONA MARKAROVA

00:50:45.640 --> 00:50:47.880
MUSIC BY
VYACHESLAV GAIVORONSKY

00:50:48.000 --> 00:50:50.720
NIKOLAI SUDNIK

00:50:50.840 --> 00:50:53.360
SOUND
IVAN GUSAKOV