Two center-right world leaders who advanced liberty have
recently died.
Hans Dietrich Genscher, long-time
German Foreign Minister, known as the architect of German reunification, died
at the end of last month at age 89. He
was Interior Minister from 1969-1974, and Foreign Minister from 1974-1992 for
all but a few-week period in 1982. The
last ten years in Cabinet, Genscher was also Vice Chancellor. He served as President of the Organization
for Security and Cooperation in Europe in
1991. A master diplomat, Genscher helped
craft the Helsinki Accords between the Soviet and Western blocs for human
rights during détente, skillfully negotiated with the Soviets the reunification
of East and West Germany
on terms favorable to the West and spearheaded the recognition of the breakaway
Republics of Yugoslavia. He advocated
for a Cold War museum.
Patricio Aylwin,
who peacefully led Chile ’s
transition from military dictatorship to a fully-representative republic, died
earlier this week at age 97. The
longtime leader of the Christian Democratic Party and Senator from 1965-1973,
which included a stint as President of the Senate from 1971 to 1972, he
peacefully opposed the Communist dictatorship of Salvador Allende and later the
military dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet, always supporting democratic
measures. Aylwin participated in the
1988 plebiscite and the subsequent negotiations that ended the
dictatorship. He was elected President
the following year and served from 1990-1994.
Aylwin is credited with transitioning Chile
towards liberty, representative government and civilian rule and also with
helping Chile
to prosper.
May Germany and Chile continue to enjoy freedom,
peace and prosperity.
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