Secretary-General Saddened by Death of Helmut Kohl, Hails Vision of ‘Modern Germany’s Longest-Serving Chancellor’ in Charting European Integration

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General António Guterres:

The Secretary-General learned with great sadness of the passing of former Chancellor of Germany, Helmut Kohl.

Mr. Kohl was modern Germany’s longest-serving Chancellor.  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.

The Secretary-General extends his condolences to Mr. Kohl’s family and to the Government and people of Germany.