Hans Carl von Werthern, Germany's ambassador to Japan, calls himself a "trained mediator." Having served in Beijing prior to his posting in Tokyo, von Werthern has witnessed the turbulent relationship between China and Japan up close. And he is convinced that Japan's reconciliation with China and South Korea is possible through "discussion and negotiation."
In the 25 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall, Europe has been an experiment in the notion of a borderless world.
War-torn Germany, through its efforts at reconciliation with neighboring countries such as France and Poland, has now become the engine of the European Union and its leader, Angela Merkel, has been hailed as the strongest leader in Europe.