UN chief praises 'vision, tenacity' of the late Helmut Kohl, chancellor who reunited Germany

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has lauded the vision and tenacity of the former Chancellor of Germany, Helmut Kohl, who died today at the age of 87.

A statement issued by the Secretary-General's Spokesman, Stéphane Dujarric, said Mr. Guterres learned with great sadness of Mr. Kohl's passing.

Noting that Mr. Kohl was “Germany's longest-serving chancellor,” the statement said that he “played an instrumental role in the peaceful reunification of his country, within a year of the fall of the Berlin Wall, and helped set a course for the historic process of Europe's political and economic integration.”

“Today's Europe is a product of his vision and his tenacity, in the face of enormous obstacles,” said the statement, which extended the UN Secretary-General's condolences to Mr. Kohl's family and to the Government and people of Germany.

Helmut Kohl (left) meets with former UN Secetary-General Kofi Annan. UN Photo/Evan Schneider

Helmut Kohl (left) meets with former UN Secetary-General Boutros Boutros Ghali. UN Photo

Helmut Kohl (left) meets with former UN Secetary-General Javier Perez de Cuella (center). UN Photo

Helmut Kohl (left) pays courtesy call on former UN Secetary-General Kurt Waldheim. UN Photo

‹

›