On March 31, the politician who played a key part in Germany's reunification died of heart failure at the age of 89.
Genscher strictly opposed anti-Russian sanctions and claimed that "there is no stability in Europe without Russia."
In an interview with German media, he criticized the current confrontation between NATO and Russia and called for cooperation between Moscow and the West.
"Today we live in a globalized world and depend on cooperation between states much more than ever before. The old policy of confrontation — Who is the strongest? Who is in charge?— is untimely. We need the collective power of all in order to resolve the crises around us," Genscher said in an interview with the German newspaper SZ, in August 2015.
"I don't understand why they have made so little use of it. This council was especially established for such times — not when the sun shines, but when it rains. I keep hearing how difficult it is to gather all together at the table. Of course, this is a complicated procedure," Genscher said.
The politician also viewed Western sanctions against Russia as a wrong and inefficient measure. They have not brought any positive results and, in addition, negatively affected the German economy, he argued.
The end of the Cold War was designed to put an end to the division of Europe. Instead, the division line in Europe was just moved to the East, Genscher claimed.
