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Two Decades Later

Clinton Takes Aim at 'Walls of the 21st Century' in Berlin

By Christopher Lawton

Berlin is in a partying mood, and a number of heavy-hitting politicians are on hand to assist in the Berlin Wall anniversary celebrations. On Sunday, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton accepted an award at a gala dinner and warned that the real work lies ahead.

Germany so far this month has focused much of its attention on the past. Exactly 20 years ago on Monday, the Berlin Wall fell with thousands of East Germans streaming through the suddenly open barrier to the West.

But in the German capital on Sunday night, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, in town to help the country celebrate the anniversary of the fall of the Wall, reminded Germany that attention needs to be focused on the future as well. At an awards gala, she called for a stronger partnership between the US and Europe to combat religious oppression and suicide bombers in addition to other security challenges.

"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: suicide bombers, those who murder girls who want to go to school and leaders who choose their own fortune over those of their people," Clinton said in a keynote speech at the Atlantic Council's inaugural Freedom Awards.

No Oppression

Clinton accepted an award from the Atlantic Council on behalf of the American people for advancing freedom in the events that led up to the fall of the Berlin Wall. Speaking to a room full of notables, including legendary US newscaster Tom Brokaw, Airbus head Thomas Enders and former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, who introduced his successor, Clinton said nations cannot allow oppression based on religion or tribal creed to triumph over the ideologies of freedom.

On Monday, Clinton will join several European leaders -- including Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Nicolas Sarkozy, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev -- for celebrations connected to the anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall. She is expected to give a speech on Monday honoring the historic event in front of the Brandenburg Gate.

Secretary Clinton also expressed approval of German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle, who was also in attendance to accept a Freedom Award on behalf of the German people. She added she looked forward to working with him to combat today's pressing challenges.

Westerwelle, who has endured open criticism in Germany for his supposed inability to speak adequate English, was chummy with Clinton. The US Secretary of State smiled and joked with Westerwelle and greeted his partner, Michael Mronz, with a handshake and a kiss. Westerwelle was only just sworn in to his new office at the very end of October, after his business-friendly Free Democratic Party joined Merkel's Christian Democratic Union in a governing coalition following the late September general elections. Westerwelle is hosting a lunch on Monday in honor of Clinton's visit.

'Never Forget This Personal Moment'

Speaking to the crowd first in more-than-adequate English, Westerwelle told an emotional story of his first trip to West Berlin and the Berlin Wall with his father at the age of 13. He described how he stood on a wooden observation platform and looked over the Wall into the so-called death strip and the buildings on the other side.

"I will never forget this very personal moment because it was the very first time I understood what had happened in our history," Westerwelle said. "It is a remarkable situation that someone of my generation stands now here, and that someone of my generation has now the honor to receive this award."

In his mother tongue, Westerwelle then thanked the Atlantic Council on behalf of the German people for the award, and reminded the audience that the Wall didn't "fall." Instead, he said, it was overthrown and removed in a peaceful revolution, and the world must not forget those who sacrificed to make that happen.

The End of World War II

Other notable honorees included Berlin Mayor Klaus Wowereit, who accepted an award on behalf of the citizens of Berlin, and Admiral James Stavridis, who accepted on behalf of NATO troops. Both ex-Polish President Lech Walesa and former Czech President Vaclav Havel were honored in abstentia.

In introducing Admiral Stavridis, former Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski reminded the audience that NATO must remain steadfast in its efforts to fight al-Qaida in Afghanistan and to promote stability in the Balkans.

Kwasniewski also recalled the emotions he felt when he signed the document establishing Poland as a member of NATO. "It was the moment when we felt at last that World War II and its post-war consequences were finally over," he said.