Farewell ceremony with Helmut Kohl in Strasbourg
Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev arrived in Strasbourg at the farewell ceremony with former German Federal Chancellor Helmut Kohl, who died June 16. It is reported by RIA Novosti.
“He was the leader, thanks to which changing times. A lot of things he has achieved in 16 years as Chancellor, his contemporaries said: “It is impossible to do.” About those events today we talk differently: “It was impossible to do otherwise.” So he knew how to choose the right path, the one which went the story,” said the head of government in his speech at the farewell ceremony. “Russia was always a reliable partner, our people are especially deeply understood the danger of confrontation and the value of peace, it has allowed former adversaries together to begin to build relationships based on mutual respect, equality and trust”, — added Dmitry Medvedev.
On the plane the head of the government at the funeral of the ex-Chancellor of Germany at the personal invitation of the family Since he arrived the widow of the first President of Russia Naina Yeltsin. Of their intention to attend the ceremony, said the foreign Minister of Germany Sigmar Gabriel, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the President of the country Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
Helmut Kohl — Chancellor of Germany from 1982 to 1998. One of his most important achievements is the promotion of the reunification of West and East Germany. In 1991 Kohl was elected first Chancellor of the United States. The end of his political career was overshadowed by the corruption scandal involving illegal funding of political party “Christian democratic Union” (CDU), the Chairman of which Helmut Kohl was in 1973-1998.
The ex-Chancellor of Germany died 16 Jun 88-m to year of life in his home in German Ludwigshafen.