Guido Westerwelle

Guido Westerwelle   (politician)
Born	27 December 1961 Bad Honnef, West Germany (Now Germany)
Died	18 March 2016 (Age 54) Cologne, Germany
Cause of death	acute myeloid leukemia
Nationality	German
Alma mater	University of Hagen
Member of	Atlantik-Brücke, WEF/Global Leaders for Tomorrow/1997
Victim of	premature death
Party	FDP
Atlantik-Brücke, Bilderberg 2007, ousted after a media campaign. Died aged 54 of acute myeloid leukemia.  Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs In office 28 October 2009 - 17 December 2013 Preceded by Frank-Walter Steinmeier Succeeded by Frank-Walter Steinmeier  Vice Chancellor of Germany In office 28 October 2009 - 16 May 2011  Germany/Leader of the Opposition  In office 1 May 2006 - 28 October 2009  Member of the Bundestag  In office 8 February 1996 - 22 October 2013 Succeeded by Cem Özdemir

Guido Westerwelle was a German politician for the FDP who has been foreign minister from 2009 to 2013.

Career

When Westerwelle showed too much independence, he was ousted^{[By whom?]} after a media campaign. In 2010, leaked U.S. diplomatic cables revealed that US diplomats considered Westerwelle an obstacle to deeper transatlantic relations. A cable from 20th May 2009 summarized:

While his domestic credentials have matured over the FDP's eleven years in the opposition, his level of understanding of foreign policy matters appears to be not as developed. His speech at the DGAP was disappointing; his command of complex foreign issues, for example, regarding the Middle East and Iran were not convincing. [...] Westerwelle has as good a chance as anyone to become foreign minister in the next government. Building the USG relationship with him — and sending clear signals about U.S. expectations — is an important investment now, however frustrating Westerwelle's views on individual issues may be.

In 2011, before the attack on Libya started, a decision was pending in the UN Security Council (of which Germany was a rotating member at the time). In what has been described as "spectacular move", he as the German foreign minister instructed the German ambassador to abstain.

FDP Flyer affair

During Möllemanns (also FDP) so-called "flyer affair" in 2002, Westerwelle was invited to Israel to settle the matter. The Süddeutsche Zeitung wrote in 2010:

Israel's ambassador at the time, Shimon Stein, observed the goings-on with concern and got the FDP leader an invitation to Jerusalem. Westerwelle accepted, but reiterated his criticism of Israel's occupation policy in Bild am Sonntag shortly before his departure. "One is allowed to criticize without immediately being pushed into the brown corner," he said. In Jerusalem, Westerwelle was received by the highest representatives of the state - who read him the riot act. Then-Prime Minister Ariel Sharon spoke about anti-Semitism in Europe and got specific: "The things that are said against the Jewish community in Germany also worry us a lot."
Westerwelle delayed breaking with Möllemann after the trip. Möllemann was forced to resign from his posts on Oct. 21 only after the federal election failed for the FDP and illegal financial machinations became known. Less than a year later, he parachuted to his death.

Israel

In March 2010 he made his stance on the Israeli government's settlement program and said that: "We want a two-state solution,"

Death

He became ill from acute leukemia in 2014, later diagnosed as acute myeloid leukemia.

 

Events Participated in

Event	Start	End	Location(s)	Description
Bilderberg/2007	31 May 2007	3 June 2007	Turkey Istanbul	The 55th Bilderberg meeting, held in Turkey
WEF/Annual Meeting/2009	23 January 2008	27 January 2008	World Economic Forum Switzerland
WEF/Annual Meeting/2013	23 January 2013	27 January 2013	World Economic Forum Switzerland	2500 mostly unelected leaders met to discuss "leading through adversity"