Angela MERKEL, German Federal Chancellor, expresses herself on the occasion of the European ceremony of honour for former Chancellor and Honorary Citizen of Europe Helmut KOHL, in the EP in Strasbourg.

European ceremony of honour for former Chancellor and Honorary Citizen of Europe Helmut KOHL: extracts from the speech by Angela MERKEL, German Federal Chancellor

Angel Merkel walks over to give her speech

SOUNDBITE (German), Angela MERKEL, German Federal Chancellor, Today we are saying &lsquo; good by&rsquo; to Helmut Kohl, the Chancellor of German&rsquo;s unity, the winner of the Charlemagne Prize and an honoured citizen of Europe. He, who as a student of history as a young man has now himself a place in the books of history. Helmut Kohl embodies an epoch, with his domestical and with his international policy he has set new standards. His Federal Chancellery is linked with many years of economic prosperity, but given all that he never lost his understanding of the whole picture above and beyond Germany.

SOUNDBITE (German), Angela MERKEL, German Federal Chancellor, A lot of things that we take for granted now are things we owe to him: the fact that Eastern and Western Germany are now together, that we have a Single market, that we have no border checks between European member states, the fact that most of these countries enjoy single currency, that the EU is at the present day form actually even exists is essential linked to the name Helmut Kohl. He has influenced and created and entire generation.

SOUNDBITE (German) : Angela MERKEL, German Federal Chancellor: Dear Ms Kohl Richter, you have accompanied your husband with devotion over the last years and with a great deal of love until the very last moment and I express my condolences to you. And to all my condolences to all are mourning him in his family. And the today the last point of the funeral possession will be in Speyer and there will be bringing together again part of France and Germany. He was an honoured citizens of Europe, he was a Chancellor of unity and many will remember him for many years as this. Without Helmut Kohl the lives of millions of people who lived behind the wall after 1990 would have been entirely different, my own life without Helmut Kohl would be entirely different. Dear Federal Chancellor Helmut Kohl, for the time standing here you have had a decisive contribution to that being possible , thank you for the chances and opportunities that you gave me. Thank you for the chances that you gave to many others as well, thank you very much for the chances which we as Germans and Europeans have received, thanks to you. You have achieved a huge amount, may you rest in peace. Now it is up to us to preserve and guard your legacy, I bow before you and your memory in gratitude and humility.

Applause, Angela Merkel bows in front of the coffin, (3 shots)

European ceremony of honour for former Chancellor and Honorary Citizen of Europe Helmut KOHL: extracts from the speech by Angela MERKEL, German Federal Chancellor

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European ceremony of honour for Helmut KOHL