As chairman of the FDP and Minister for economics in different national governments Graf Lambsdorff tirelessly worked to uphold the principles of freedom in a market economy.

As President of Liberal International in the mid-90ies and later as Honorary President, Graf Lambsdorff defended the universal human rights uncompromisingly around the globe. Under his leadership Liberal International became a truly international umbrella organization for liberal parties worldwide. Both as President of Liberal International and later as chairman of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation, he contributed significantly to the liberal transition processes particularly in Central-Eastern Europe.

"It was his outstanding personality and staunch and credible liberal convictions as a defender of human rights and the market economy that did not only have an effect on my personal relations with Graf Lambsdorff but determined political positions of many young liberal parties", commented a saddened Federica Sabbati, ELDR Secretary General.

As special representative of the German government he was key for the negotiations that led to individual humanitarian payments of millions of forced laborers and other victims of the German Nazi regime. This latest remarkable achievement proved once more how passionate and uncompromisingly he defended political freedoms and the universality of human rights.

"It is this liberal steadfastness of Graf Lambsdorff that European Liberals will continue to commemorate and we will stand up to his line of thinking and acting", President Neyts concluded.