Happy 20 years of German reunification!

Posted By P.J. Aroon Sunday, October 3, 2010 - 2:21 PM

To everybody in Germany, happy 20 years of reunification! Secretary Clinton congratulates the people of Germany and says, "Today, Germany is a global champion for human liberty and economic freedom -- values that form the foundation for the enduring friendship between our nations."

She made the remark in a statement issued Oct. 1, two days before today's Oct. 3 anniversary:

On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I congratulate the people of Germany as you celebrate the 20th anniversary of German unification.

A year ago, I travelled to Berlin to commemorate the moment in 1989 when history pierced concrete and concertina wire, and Germans tore down the Berlin Wall. It was an hour when the hopes and prayers and sacrifices of millions came together in an unwavering exclamation of freedom. On October 3, 1990, the German people embraced that freedom again. They proclaimed their desire to live as one nation. And they began building a new Germany that would become an anchor of democracy, stability, and prosperity. The progress of the last two decades was not inevitable, and it stands as a monument to the all those who worked for generations to realize the goal of a Germany whole and free.

Today, Germany is a global champion for human liberty and economic freedom - values that form the foundation for the enduring friendship between our nations. The United States joins Germany in honoring this day of national unity. And I look forward to our continuing cooperation to advance the values we celebrate on this anniversary.

In the photo above from Berlin, the Reichstag, the meeting place of Germany's parliament, is illuminated in the colors of the German flag on Oct. 3 as part of celebrations marking the 20th anniversary of reunification.

Sean Gallup/Getty Images

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Photos: Clinton in Berlin

Posted By P.J. Aroon Monday, November 9, 2009 - 8:00 PM

It looks cold and rainy in Berlin right now, but Clinton is there in full force:

Hillary Clinton, Nov. 9, 2009 | WOLFGANG RATTAY/AFP/Getty Images

Clinton delivers a speech in front of the Brandenburg Gate during celebrations marking the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Hillary Clinton, world leaders, Nov. 9, 2009 | Hennig Schacht-Pool/Getty Images

British Prime Minister Gordon Brown (left), French President Nicolas Sarkozy, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, German President Horst Köhler, Berlin's Mayor Klaus Wowereit, and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton attend celebrations near the Brandenburg Gate for the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Approximately 1,000 giant foam dominoes, painted by children and artists from around the world, are meant to symbolically represent the fall of communism across Eastern Europe and are the highlight of the celebrations.

Hillary Clinton, Angela Merkel | MICHAEL KAPPELER/AFP/Getty Images

Woman power: Earlier in the day, Merkel (the most powerful woman in the world) greeted Clinton (the 36th most powerful, according to Forbes) prior to bilateral talks.

Photos, top to bottom: WOLFGANG RATTAY/AFP/Getty Images, Hennig Schacht-Pool/Getty Images, MICHAEL KAPPELER/AFP/Getty Images

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Clinton calls fall of Berlin Wall a 'call to action'

Posted By P.J. Aroon Monday, November 9, 2009 - 6:54 PM

Hillary Clinton, Henry Kissinger, Nov. 8, 2009 | JOHN MACDOUGALL/AFP/Getty Images Last night at a gala banquet in Berlin, Secretary Clinton received an Atlantic Council Freedom Award on behalf of the American people. Above, she holds the award while posing with former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, an Atlantic Council board member who introduced Clinton.

In delivering the evening's keynote address, Clinton said the festivities surrounding the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall "should be a call to action, not just a commemoration of past actions. That call should spur us to continue our cooperation and to look for new ways that we can meet the challenges that freedom faces now."

She went on to say:

We need to form an even stronger partnership to bring down the walls of the 21st century and to confront those who hide behind them: the suicide bombers, those who murder and maim girls whose only wish is to go to school, leaders who choose their own fortunes over the fortunes of their people."

Very inspiring words indeed -- calling for people to use the spirit that animated the wall's fall to fight terrorism and authoritarian regimes. Hopefully it will move people to action, but Thomas Carothers, of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, is skeptical that Europeans will buy into the Bush-era "trope" of linking the Cold War and extremism. He told Agence France-Presse via e-mail:

Facing difficult pressures on Afghanistan, the Obama administration marked the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall by revving up a rhetorical trope that President Bush favored. … Europeans and others never found it very convincing under Bush. … I suspect they won't like it much better now."

But between Clinton's star power and President Obama's hope-oriented charisma, the new U.S. administration has an inspiring and influential presence that Bush never had. Sometimes you just need the right messenger for your message.

Photo: JOHN MACDOUGALL/AFP/Getty Images

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Clinton is going to Germany, and other assorted links

Posted By P.J. Aroon Monday, October 19, 2009 - 8:30 PM

•Secretary Clinton will be in Germany next month to attend a "freedom party" to mark the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. Giant dominoes will tumble to symbolize the fall.

•Clinton met with Iraq Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, above, this afternoon in Washington.

•A Washington Post editorial commends Clinton for promoting democracy in Russia.

•Clinton pens an op-ed on world hunger and food security.

•Clinton unveiled the Sudan policy review with Susan Rice, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, and Scott Gration, the special envoy for Sudan.

•In London, The Times reports that Clinton was snubbed by Putin when she was in Russia last week to push sanctions against Iran.

•Clinton got a "mixed bag" of diplomatic results in Russia last week, writes FP Shadow Government blogger David J. Kramer.

Photo: JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images

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Photo summary of Hillary at NATO summit

Posted By P.J. Aroon Monday, April 6, 2009 - 3:22 PM

Here's a photo summary of Secretary Clinton at this weekend's 60th-anniversary NATO summit in Strasbourg, France, and the German cities of Baden-Baden and Kehl:

Hillary Clinton at NATO Summit, April 3, 2009

Check out those shades! U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and her German counterpart, Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, greet one another in Baden-Baden at the start of the NATO summit on April 3.

Hillary Clinton with Angel Merkel, April 3, 2009

Pink power: Clinton talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel after U.S. President Barack Obama and Merkel reviewed a guard of honor upon Obama's arrival for bilateral talks on April 3 in Baden-Baden.

Hillary Clinton at NATO summit, April 3, 2009

She's earned her stripes: Clinton arrives at the opening of the NATO summit at the Kurhaus on April 3 in Baden-Baden. Heads of state, foreign ministers, and defense ministers of the 28 NATO member countries participated in the summit from April 3 to 4 to mark the 60th anniversary of the transatlantic military and political organization.

Hillary Clinton at NATO summit, April 3, 2009

Clinton attends the opening of the NATO summit at the Kurhaus on April 3 in Baden-Baden.

Hillary Clinton with Obama at NATO summit, April 4, 2009

Clinton and Obama appear to be sharing an inside joke while attending the North Atlantic Council meeting on April 4 in Strasbourg during the NATO summit. Next to them are British Foreign Minister David Miliband (far left) and British Prime Minister Gordon Brown.

Hillary Clinton and Obama at NATO summit, April 4, 2009

Clinton and Obama speak during a meeting at the NATO summit on April 4 in Strasbourg.

Hillary Clinton and De Hoop Scheffer

NATO Secretary-General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer intently listens to Clinton at the North Atlantic Council meeting on April 4.

Hillary Clinton at group photo in Prague, April 4, 2009

This photo isn't from the NATO summit, but I threw it in because it's from Clinton's European visit: European foreign ministers pose with Clinton for a group picture on April 5 during the EU-U.S. summit in Prague, Czech Republic.

Photos, top to bottom: MICHAEL KAPPELER/AFP/Getty Images, Ralph Orlowski/Getty Images, Sean Gallup/Getty Images, Joerg Eberl/action press-Pool/Getty Images, SEBASTIEN BOZON/AFP/Getty Images, Sascha Schuermann-Pool/Getty Images, SASCHA SCHUERMANN/AFP/Getty Images, OLIVERIO IMAGO ECONOMICA/AFP/Getty Images

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Madam Secretary is an obsessive blog about all things Hillary Clinton. From her policies to her pantsuits, Madam Secretary delivers up-to-the-minute news, analysis, and gossip about America's top diplomat.