The EWI family mourns the loss of Former German Foreign Minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher on March 31, 2016. Genscher played a pivotal role in reuniting East and West Germany. He was Board Chairman of the EastWest Institute from 1992 to 1993, continually supporting the institute's mission with his leadership and bold vision as chairman emeritus.

He served as Germany's foreign minister for 18 years, from 1974 to 1992, during which time he was an early advocate of pursuing detente with the Soviet Union when the country began to open up and later, break apart under the leadership of Mikhail Gorbachev. He was instrumental in Germany's reunification in 1990, following the fall of the Berlin Wall.