Tributes paid to 'true European' Helmut Kohl
- 7 years ago
World leaders have paid tribute to former German chancellor Helmut Kohl in a emotionally-charged ceremony in Strasbourg.
Former US president Bill Clinton, German chancellor Angela Merkel and French president Emmanuel Macron all spoke fondly of Kohl, who died aged 87 last month.
The ceremony at the European Parliament, which was attended by British prime minister Theresa May, came ahead of Kohl’s funeral in Germany later on Saturday.
“Helmut Kohl was a true European and friend,” said European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker. “Europe owes him a lot.”
Kohl’s coffin, draped in a European flag, was carried into the parliament by eight German soldiers.
Three bouquets of flowers were placed in front of the coffin, one in German colours, one on behalf of the European Union and another from his wife, which was marked ‘In Leibe, deine Maike’ (With love, Maike)
Watch the ceremony in full
Former US president Bill Clinton, German chancellor Angela Merkel and French president Emmanuel Macron all spoke fondly of Kohl, who died aged 87 last month.
The ceremony at the European Parliament, which was attended by British prime minister Theresa May, came ahead of Kohl’s funeral in Germany later on Saturday.
“Helmut Kohl was a true European and friend,” said European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker. “Europe owes him a lot.”
Kohl’s coffin, draped in a European flag, was carried into the parliament by eight German soldiers.
Three bouquets of flowers were placed in front of the coffin, one in German colours, one on behalf of the European Union and another from his wife, which was marked ‘In Leibe, deine Maike’ (With love, Maike)
Watch the ceremony in full