Ex-German FM Visits

Former German Foreign Minister Joschka M. Fischer offered his views on the future of the United States’ and Europe’s transatlantic relationship, European integration, and other global issues to a standing-room only Harvard European Conference at the Kennedy School of Government (KSG) on Friday.

In his introductory remarks, moderator David R. Gergen, public service professor of public leadership at KSG, joked that Fischer, who is currently a visiting professor at Princeton, “came here for some intellectual stimulation.”

“I don’t want to interfere with the wonderful relationship between Princeton and Harvard. It’s easier to speak about the transatlantic relationship,” said Fischer.

Fischer emphasized that globalization has made it not only necessary for cooperation transatlantically between the United States and Europe, but also collaboration within Europe internally.

Because “globalization is a two-way street,” Fischer said that this has led to the globalization of all of the world’s problems.

For this reason, new institutions and policies for cooperation need to be developed, according to Fischer.

“Don’t misunderstand me. I’m not an idealist. I think we will be forced to cooperate,” he said.

Fischer also discussed internal European politics in the context of globalization. The old Europe was nationalistic, while the new Europe is integrated—as exemplified by the European Union (EU), he said.

Fischer warned that unless Turkey is eventually approved for membership in the EU, it will form an alliance with Russia and Iran. “Turkey will be the key pillar of security in the 21st century,” he said.

Fischer’s speech was received by a standing ovation from the audience.

“He [Fischer] was brilliant. He doesn’t have a bachelor’s degree and was a taxi driver. He is the most impressive European politician,” said audience member Kyriakos Piarrakakis, a student at KSG.

Following the speech, Fischer left immediately for the airport to fly to what the moderator called “an emergency meeting regarding Afghanistan.”

While he did not explicitly say what the meeting convened to address, the Associated Press reported that the German newspaper Bild published photos of German soldiers posing inappropriately with skulls in Afghanistan last week.

Two of the soldiers involved were suspended from military duty on Friday.