Samuel Nunn: “I rise today to pay tribute to Manfred Woerner, the Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. This…”

“I rise today to pay tribute to Manfred Woerner, the Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. This weekend, on February 5, in Munich Germany, Manfred Woerner will receive the prestigious Eric M. Warburg Award for achievements in German-American friendship. This award is given annually to distinguished Germans or Americans who have furthered the cause of German-American friendship. American recipients of this award have included Dr. Henry Kissinger and Ambassador Paul Nitze. Mr. President, many of our colleagues know that Manfred Woerner is a man who has dedicated his life to the security of Germany and to the nations of the NATO alliance. NATO has been the most successful alliance in which the United States has ever taken part. NATO has kept the peace in Europe for over 45 years, one of the longest periods of peace ever enjoyed by that troubled continent. NATO has also been instrumental in bringing to a peaceful end the long and dangerous nuclear confrontation that existed between East and West during the cold war. Manfred Woerner began his service to Germany in 1961 at the height of the cold war. He held various important positions in the German Government, eventually rising to become Federal Minister of Defense in 1982. These were critical years for Germany, and Manfred Woerner's service and leadership was an important factor in laying the foundation for the eventual reunification of Germany.”