The handshake in the German foreign ministry’s chandeliered World Hall was meant to tell the whole story. “Continuity” is the buzzword in foreign policy circles at this time of change in Germany, and continuity was the desired message from the ceremonial hand-clasp as Berlin’s top diplomat Joschka Fischer passed on responsibility for his ministry to his successor Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
“Joschka, I will ensure that we continue where you left off,” Mr Steinmeier told hundreds of ministry officials at the ceremony late last month.
