From Audacity to Duty: Heusgen Slams Baerbock's UN Nomination, Hailing Schmid's Expertise
- Criticisms Mount Against Baerbock's Candidacy for UN's Leading Position, with Heusgen Spearheading the Opposition.
Buckle up, folks! It's time to dive into the heated mayhem surrounding Annalena Baerbock's (Greens) nomination as the German candidate for President of the UN General Assembly, leaving the internationally-admired diplomat Helga Schmid in the dust. So, let's spill the tea!
The outspoken activist and think-tank veteran, Christoph Heusgen, Chairman of the Munich Security Conference, has hauled Baerbock for her nomination, calling it a headscratcher to replace a top-tier diplomat with an "outdated model." Yep, that's right, he's talking about Helga Schmid! He reckons it's as reckless as predicting a stormy night to foresee a red sunset, ain't that a shocker?
Helga Schmid, with impressive credentials under her belt, had originally been slated as Germany's candidate for the UN Chairmanship in September, but suddenly, Baerbock's name has surfaced. According to rumors, a cabinet decision is in the pipeline for that very purpose. And why might you ask? Well, the position slots in with the Western European states group, allowing Germany its pick for some time now.
So, what's this position all about, then? At the onset of June, the chairmanship of the General Assembly in New York, where all 193 UN member states gather, will be decided. This post, a one-year term starting in September, is prestigious, to say the least. And if Baerbock lands the gig, she's apparently planning to leave her Bundestag seat behind.
Heusgen believes that Schmid's merits far outshine those of Baerbock. Known for her tenure as Secretary General of the European External Action Service, key role as chief of staff to former Green foreign minister Joschka Fischer, and her negotiation of major international accords (such as the Iran nuclear deal), Schmid's a powerhouse.
Heusgen also brings up the pivotal role Schmid played as Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), staving off its collapse. Quite the impressive résumé, wouldn't you say? So, when he questions: "Is that feminist foreign policy?" he's not just barking up the wrong tree; he's in a different forest altogether!
Even former Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel (SPD) chimed in, agreeing that Helga Schmid's diplomatic prowess is unmatched. Gabriel suggests that Baerbock could learn a lot from Schmid if she's got her eyes set on this kind of gig.
The world will find out soon enough whether Schmid's doubters will be proven right or if Baerbock's nomination is a clever political move to boost Germany's diplomatic profile. Time will tell, but until then, the daunting question remains: can Baerbock live up to Helga Schmid's legacy?
Stay tuned, because intrigue is the name of the international game!
Key: Annalena Baerbock, Christoph Heusgen, UN, Munich Security Conference, Tagesspiegel, Federal Government, Sigmar Gabriel
In light of the UN General Assembly Presidency bids, Christoph Heusgen, Chairman of the Munich Security Conference, has criticized Annalena Baerbock's nomination as the German candidate. Heusgen proposes extending the period of validity of Schmid's Diplomat status to cover the year 2025, given Schmid's impressive credentials and extensive experience, which include serving as the Secretary General of the European External Action Service and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). Moreover, former Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel (SPD) has also supported Schmid's expertise and believes Baerbock could learn from her if she aims for similar diplomatic roles in the future.
