UN chief praises ‘vision, tenacity’ of the late Helmut Khol, chancellor who reunited Germany

16 June 2017 – 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 &#8220Germany’s longest-serving chancellor,&#8221 the statement said that he &#8220played 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.&#8221

&#8220Today’s Europe is a product of his vision and his tenacity, in the face of enormous obstacles,&#8221 said the statement, which extended the UN Secretary-General’s condolences to Mr. Kohl’s family and to the Government and people of Germany.