ROME –
Angela Merkel has her old CDU-mentor Helmut Kohl commemorated in a speech in Rome, where the German chancellor, on Saturday a meeting with pope Francis. “The Germans had a lot of luck with Kohl’s,” said Merkel. They praised him as a great European.
“The message of the death of Helmut Kohl makes us silent and fills us with deep sorrow. My condolences goes in the first place to his wife, Maike, who I call will have her amazing strong, and to his family. I wish their consolation and strength.”
“But I think at this moment with great respect and gratitude to the life and work of chancellor Kohl. The image of a in every respect a large man, his performance, his role as a statesman in Germany’s historic hour: all That is us immediately for eyes. It will be a while before we really realize what we have lost.”
Kohl and Merkel in 2012.
Photo: AFP
Merkel honored Kohl extensively for his commitment to the CDU and Europe, but especially also for the German reunification after the fall of the Berlin Wall. “Helmut Kohl has also my life’s path decisive has changed. With millions of others I could of a life under dictatorship in the GDR by switching to a life of freedom without fear.”
Click here to read the necrology of our correspondent Rob Savelberg.