Editing Hans-Dietrich Genscher (section)

=== Post-reunification ===
In 1991, Genscher successfully pushed for Germany's recognition of the [[Croatia|Republic of Croatia]] in the [[Croatian War of Independence]] shortly after JNA entered [[Vukovar]].<ref>Stephen Kinzer (16 January 1992), [https://www.nytimes.com/1992/01/16/world/europe-backing-germans-accepts-yugoslav-breakup.html Europe, Backing Germans, Accepts Yugoslav Breakup] ''[[The New York Times]]''.</ref> After Croatia and [[Slovenia]] had declared independence, Genscher concluded that Yugoslavia could not be held together, and that republics that wanted to break from the Serbian-dominated federation deserved quick [[diplomatic recognition]]. He hoped that such recognition would stop the fighting.<ref name="nytimes.com"/> The rest of the [[European Union]] was subsequently pressured to follow suit soon afterward.<ref>Paul Lewis (16 December 1991), [https://www.nytimes.com/1991/12/16/world/un-yields-to-plans-by-germany-to-recognize-yugoslav-republics.html U.N. Yields to Plans by Germany To Recognize Yugoslav Republics] ''[[The New York Times]]''.</ref> The [[Secretary-General of the United Nations|UN Secretary-General]] [[Javier Pérez de Cuéllar]] had warned the German Government, that a recognition of Slovenia and Croatia would lead to an increase in aggression in the former Yugoslavia.

At a meeting of the [[European Community]]'s foreign ministers in 1991, Genscher proposed to press for a [[war crimes trial]] for President [[Saddam Hussein]] of Iraq, accusing him of [[Crime of aggression|aggression]] against Kuwait, using [[chemical weapons]] against civilians and condoning [[genocide]] against the [[Kurds]].<ref>[[Alan Riding]] (16 April 1991), [https://www.nytimes.com/1991/04/16/world/european-nations-to-lift-sanctions-on-south-africa.html European Nations to Lift Sanctions On South Africa] ''[[The New York Times]]''.</ref>

During the [[Gulf War]], Genscher sought to deal with Iraq after other Western leaders had decided to go to war to force it out of Kuwait. Germany made a substantial financial contribution to the allied cause but, citing constitutional restrictions on the use of its armed forces, provided almost no military assistance.<ref name="nytimes.com"/> In January 1991, Germany sent Genscher on a state visit to Israel and followed up with an agreement to provide the Jewish state with $670 million in military aid, including financing for two submarines long coveted by Israel, a battery of Patriot missiles to defend against Iraqi missiles, 58 armored vehicles specially fitted to detect chemical and biological attacks, and a shipment of gas masks.<ref>Tom Hundley (3 February 1991), [https://www.chicagotribune.com/1991/02/03/german-aid-to-iraq-opens-israeli-wounds/ German Aid To Iraq Opens Israeli Wounds] ''[[Chicago Tribune]]''.</ref> When, in the aftermath of the war, a far-reaching political debate broke out over how Germany should fulfill its global responsibilities, Genscher responded that if foreign powers expect Germany to assume greater responsibility in the world, they should give it a chance to express its views "more strongly" in the [[United Nations Security Council]].<ref name="Genscher at Eye of Policy Debate"/> He also famously held that "whatever floats is fine, whatever rolls is not" to sum up Germany's military export policy for restless countries – based on a navy's unsuitability for use against a country's own people.<ref>[http://www.dw.com/en/germany-debates-weapons-exports-amid-iraq-exception/a-17875033 Germany debates weapons exports amid Iraq 'exception'] ''[[Deutsche Welle]]'', 25 August 2014.</ref>

In 1992, Genscher, together with his Danish colleague [[Uffe Ellemann-Jensen]], took the initiative to create the [[Council of the Baltic Sea States]] (CBSS) and the [[EuroFaculty]].<ref>Gustav N Kristensen, ''Born into a Dream. EuroFaculty and the Council of the Baltic Sea States'', Berliner Wissenschafts-Verlag 2010, {{ISBN|978-3-8305-1769-6}}.</ref>

More than half a century after Nazi leaders assembled their infamous exhibition "Degenerate Art", a sweeping condemnation of the work of the avant-garde, Genscher opened a re-creation of the show at the [[Altes Museum]] in March 1992, describing Nazi attempts to restrict artistic expression as "a step toward the catastrophe that produced the mass murder of European Jews and the war of extermination against Germany's neighbors." "The paintings in this exhibition have survived oppression and censorship", he asserted in his opening remarks. "They are not only a monument but also a sign of hope. They stand for the triumph of creative freedom over barbarism."<ref>Stephen Kinzer (5 March 1992), [https://www.nytimes.com/1992/03/05/arts/nazi-show-of-bad-art-reopens-in-berlin.html Nazi Show Of 'Bad' Art Reopens In Berlin] ''[[The New York Times]]''.</ref>

On 18 May 1992, Genscher retired at his own request from the federal government, which he had been member of for a total of 23 years. At the time, he was the world's longest-serving foreign minister and Germany's most popular politician.<ref>Ian Johnson (28 April 1992), [https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/bs-xpm-1992-04-28-1992119055-story.html]  ''[[The Baltimore Sun]]''.</ref> He had announced his decision three weeks earlier, on 27 April 1992. Genscher did not specify his reasons for quitting; however, he had suffered two heart attacks by that time. His resignation took effect in May, but he remained a member of parliament and continued to be influential in the Free Democratic Party.<ref name="nytimes.com"/>

Following Genscher's resignation, Chancellor [[Helmut Kohl]] and FDP chairman [[Otto Graf Lambsdorff]] named [[Irmgard Schwaetzer]], a former aide to Genscher, to be the new Foreign Minister.<ref name="nytimes.com"/> In a surprise decision, however, a majority of the FDP parliamentary group rejected her nomination and voted instead to name Justice Minister [[Klaus Kinkel]] to head the Foreign Ministry.<ref>Stephen Kinzer (29 April 1992), [https://www.nytimes.com/1992/04/29/world/party-in-bonn-rebels-on-genscher-s-successor.html Party in Bonn Rebels on Genscher's Successor] ''[[The New York Times]]''.</ref>