Felipe GONZÁLEZ, former Spanish Prime Minister, expresses himself on the occasion of the European ceremony of honour for former Chancellor and Honorary Citizen of Europe Helmut KOHL, in the EP in Strasbourg.

Strasbourg

speech

ceremony

European ceremony of honour for Helmut KOHL - ceremony (T)

KOHL, Helmut (DE)

European ceremony of honour for Helmut KOHL (T)

GONZÁLEZ, Felipe (ES)

European ceremony of honour for former Chancellor and Honorary Citizen of Europe Helmut KOHL: extracts from the speech by Felipe GONZÁLEZ, former Spanish Prime Minister

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Felipe GONZ&#193;LEZ, former Spanish Prime Minister, Thanks to the President of the European Parliament, of the Commission and the Council for granting me the honour together with Helmut Kohl widow to say goodbye personally to my friend, to say goodbye to my friend.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Felipe GONZ&#193;LEZ, former Spanish Prime Minister, I am saying goodby to Helmut Kohl from the angle of a friendship which he had a great sense for, together with trust, which is very rare trait. He used to add to those traits loyalty and he was extremely sensitive to any lack of loyalty. He had a sense of History, and that is why he talked about a European Germany and thus there would never be any repetition of a German Europe.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Felipe GONZ&#193;LEZ, former Spanish Prime Minister, We had lost a great European and I have the feeling that I am loosing a great friend with whom I shared decisive moments in History for Germany, Spain, Europe and the World.

SOUNDBITE (Spanish), Felipe GONZ&#193;LEZ, former Spanish Prime Minister, I am going to say goodbye by saying Helmut you will leave a huge political vacuum that would be fill by the our recollection of your determination, while leaving a real political record of your achievements. For people such as me, what you are leaving above all is a great vacuum. I should miss the huge friendship that was so crucial at decive moments in History. At a time when we need you, but we will never forget you Helmut, you can rely on our friendship.