European Liberals mourn the loss of Hans-Dietrich Genscher - Main contents
ALDE Party President Hans van Baalen MEP, and with him ALDE, are deeply moved by the passing away of former FDP President and German Foreign Minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher.
Van Baalen said in a statement: "Hans-Dietrich Genscher and Willy Brandt (SPD) introduced the Ostpolitik which made co-operation with the peoples of Central and Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union possible and slowly made openings in the Iron Curtain. Eloquently said in German, 'Der Eiserne Vorhang durchlässiger machen'.
Hans-Dietrich Genscher and Helmut Kohl (CDU) seized the moment to secure German re-unification in a peaceful and inclusive manner. German re-unification went hand in hand with European re-unification. With Hans-Dietrich Genscher as it leader, FDP contributed decisively to the end of the Cold War, which deserves our eternal recognition."
Hans-Dietrich Genscher served as West German Foreign Minister and Vice Chancellor from 1974 until 1992. He was also chairman of FDP from 1974 to 1985.