Juncker referred to Kohl as "a true European and friend," adding that "Europe owes him a lot."
"With extraordinary perseverance he sought to define a common Europe. He sought for what binds it together," Tusk said of Kohl.
"Helmut Kohl gave us the chance to be involved in something bigger than ourselves, bigger than our terms in office and bigger than our fleeting careers," Clinton said in speech.
Medvedev called Kohl the "architect of the world order". "In Russia, we will remember him as our friend -- a wise and sincere person."
In the somber ceremony, accompanied by the Strasbourg University Orchestra playing excerpts from Handel, Beethoven and Schubert, some leaders took the opportunity to plead for reinforcement of the European project in the era of Brexit and numerous crises which have tested the Union's solidity.
European Parliament President Tajani told those gathered that "like Kohl and the other leaders of his era, we must work together to give fresh meaning to the European ideal."
French President Macron, the most junior of those who spoke during the ceremony, said, "We will draw from the example of Helmut Kohl what we must do to move forward together."
"The lives of millions of people would have been a lot different without Helmut Kohl -- including my own life," said Merkel when giving the final speech. "Dear Helmut Kohl, thanks to you I'm standing here today. Thanks for the chance that you made possible for me and many others."
【国际英语资讯:World leaders honor former German Chancellor Kohl in Strasbourg】相关文章:
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