Former German chancellor Helmut Kohl and his wife Maike Richter-Kohl (L) present his new book "Worried About Europe" (Aus Sorge um Europa) during a news conference in Frankfurt, November 3, 2014. Kohl, who is 84 and in frail health, was the political patron of Chancellor Angela Merkel. In excerpts of the book released this weekend, he criticises Germany's SPD for straying from fiscal discipline in the early 2000s and worries about the split between Russia and the West. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach (GERMANY - Tags: SOCIETY POLITICS ENTERTAINMENT)

Former German chancellor Helmut Kohl arrives for the unveiling of a bust at the interior ministry in Berlin, June 26, 2013. REUTERS/Thomas Peter (GERMANY - Tags: POLITICS HEADSHOT) 

Former German chancellor Helmut Kohl arrives for the unveiling of a bust at the interior ministry in Berlin, June 26, 2013. REUTERS/Thomas Peter (GERMANY - Tags: POLITICS) 

German former chancellor Helmut Kohl attends an unveiling ceremony of bust of German artist Kaethe Kollwitz in Berlin June 26, 2013. REUTERS/Tobias Schwarz (GERMANY - Tags: POLITICS HEADSHOT) 

Former German chancellor Helmut Kohl reacts during the unveiling of a plaque honoring Kohl as chancellor of the reunification of Germany, in the village of Moedlareuth near Hof May 21, 2013. REUTERS/Michael Dalder (GERMANY - Tags: POLITICS HEADSHOT) 

Germany's former Chancellor Helmut Kohl attends a stamp unveiling ceremony during a reception in Berlin, September 27, 2012. REUTERS/Wolfgang Kumm/Pool (GERMANY - Tags: POLITICS HEADSHOT) 

German Chancellor Angela Merkel applauds as former German chancellor Helmut Kohl (R) arrives for a Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and Christian Social Union (CSU) party faction meeting in the Reichstag building in Berlin, September 25, 2012. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch (GERMANY - Tags: POLITICS)

Former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl sits next to his second wife Maike Kohl-Richter (L) at the former lower house of parliament Bundestag in Bonn August 27, 2012. The Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS) of Germany's Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party, named after Germany's first post-WWII-war Chancellor Konrad Adenauer, marked Kohl's 30th anniversary of his 16-year-long era as German Chancellor. REUTERS/Wolfgang Rattay (GERMANY - Tags: POLITICS) 

Pope Benedict XVI meets with former German chancellor Helmut Kohl at the seminary in Freiburg September 24, 2011. Pope Benedict has praised Catholics in eastern Germany who held on to their Christian beliefs despite the "acid rain" that corroded their faith under the Nazis and communism. The Bavarian-born pontiff is on a four-day visit to Germany, his third visit to his homeland since he took over as head of the Catholic church. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann (GERMANY - Tags: POLITICS RELIGION) 

Former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl addresses the audience after he was awarded with the 'Henry A. Kissinger Prize' by the American Academy in Berlin, May 16, 2011. REUTERS/Clemens Bilan/Pool (GERMANY - Tags: POLITICS) 

Former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl (L-R) receives applause from former U.S. president Bill Clinton, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger after he was awarded with the 'Henry A.Kissinger Prize' by the American Academy in Berlin, May 16, 2011. REUTERS/Clemens Bilan/Pool (GERMANY - Tags: POLITICS) 

President of the Bundestag, the German lower house of parliament, Norbert Lammert, Former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, his wife Maike Richter and German Chancellor Angela Merkel with her husband Joachim Sauer (L-R) arrive for celebrations marking the country's 20th anniversary of reunification in Berlin October 3, 2010. After four decades of division into Soviet-controlled communist German Democratic Republic (GDR) in the east and the Federal Republic of Germany in the west, Germany was officially reunited on October 3, 1990. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch (GERMANY - Tags: POLITICS ANNIVERSARY) 

Former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl receives applause during celebrations marking the country's 20th anniversary of reunification in Berlin October 3, 2010. After four decades of division into Soviet-controlled communist German Democratic Republic (GDR) in the east and the Federal Republic of Germany in the west, Germany was officially reunited on October 3, 1990. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch (GERMANY - Tags: POLITICS ANNIVERSARY) 

Former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl waves after his speech at a ceremony of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party to mark the upcoming 20-year anniversary of the German unification in Berlin October 1, 2010. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch (GERMANY - Tags: POLITICS) 

Former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl (L) toasts with glasses of white wine with German Chancellor Angela Merkel after a ceremony of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party to mark the upcoming 20-year anniversary of the German unification in Berlin October 1, 2010. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch (GERMANY - Tags: POLITICS) 

Former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl gives a speech at a ceremony of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party to mark the upcoming 20-year anniversary of the German unification in Berlin October 1, 2010. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch (GERMANY - Tags: POLITICS) 

German former chancellor Helmut Kohl attends a military tattoo to honour Roland Koch, the outgoing Premier of Germany's federal state of Hesse, at the Biebrich castle in Wiesbaden August 30, 2010. Former Hesse state premier Roland Koch, a powerful leader in Chancellor Angela Merkel's CDU, quit politics in a move that could further erode support for the conservatives. REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach (GERMANY - Tags: POLITICS)

German former chancellor Helmut Kohl holds his speech during his official birthday reception in Ludwigshafen May 5, 2010. REUTERS/Johannes Eisele (GERMANY - Tags: POLITICS) 

Former Chancellor of Germany Helmut Kohl attends a reception at the presidential Bellevue palace in Berlin, December 8, 2009. REUTERS/Tobias Schwarz (GERMANY POLITICS) 

Former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl reacts as he attends a ceremony of the Konrad-Adenauer foundation to mark the upcoming 20-year anniversary, in November, of the fall of the wall which once divided communist East Berlin from capitalist west Berlin, in Berlin October 31, 2009. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch (GERMANY POLITICS) 

Former Soviet Union President Mikhail Gorbachev (L), former U.S. President George Bush (2nd L) and former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl (R) attend a ceremony of the Konrad-Adenauer foundation to mark the upcoming 20-year anniversary, in November, of the fall of the wall which once divided communist East Berlin from capitalist west Berlin, in Berlin October 31, 2009. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch (GERMANY POLITICS) 

Former Soviet Union President Mikhail Gorbachev (L) reaches out his hand to former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl (R) as former U.S. President George Bush applauds while attending a ceremony of the Konrad-Adenauer foundation to mark the upcoming 20-year anniversary, in November, of the fall of the wall which once divided communist East Berlin from capitalist west Berlin, in Berlin October 31, 2009. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch (GERMANY POLITICS) 

Former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl (C) is helped by his bodyguards, because of his knee problem after he presented the third part of his memories during a news conference in Berlin November 16, 2007. Kohl, chancellor from 1982 to 1998, and political mentor of Chancellor Angela Merkel, presented in German capital the third part of his memories 'Helmut Kohl - Erinnerungen 1990-1994'. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch (GERMANY) 

Former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl (R) and his companion Maike Richter attend a reception to mark the 80th birthday of former German Free Democratic Party (FDP) leader Otto Graf Lambsdorff in Berlin January 29, 2007. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch (GERMANY) 

Former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl is kissed by his partner Maike Richter as he signs autographs for clients in a bookstore in Berlin November 23, 2005. Kohl, chancellor from 1982 to 1998, and political mentor of Chancellor Angela Merkel, presented in German capital on Wednesday the second part of his memories 'Helmut Kohl - Erinnerungen 1982-1990', published in October 2005. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann 

German Chancellor Helmut Kohl waves during an electoral rally in Erfurt in East Germany in February 1990. REUTERS/Michael Urban 

Helmut Kohl, former German Chancellor sits in front of a large photograph of himself during a news conference to promote his new book, 'Erinnerungen 1982-1990' (Memories 1982-1990) in Berlin November 2, 2005. Kohl, born in 1930, was Chancellor with the Christian Democratic Union CDU from 1982 until 1998. The book goes on sale tomorrow. REUTERS/Tobias Schwarz 

Russian President Vladimir Putin greets former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl at his Novo-Ogaryovo residence outside Moscow October 13, 2005. REUTERS/ Alexander Zemlianichenko/Pool 

Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev (R) and former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl leave after a tree planting ceremony during the festivities marking the 15th anniversary of the formal re-unification of Germany in Potsdam, south of Berlin October 3, 2005. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch 

Former German Chancellor Kohl reacts as an eagle sits on his hand during the 'Point Alpha Award' ceremony near the village of Geisa. Former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl reacts as an eagle sits on his hand during the 'Point Alpha Award' ceremony at the cold war-era U.S. Army observation post point Alpha at the demarcation line between East and West Germany near the village of Geisa, east Germany June 17, 2005. Bush received the inaugural 'Point Alpha Award', that honours outstanding contributions to German and European unity along with Kohl and Gorbachev on Friday, the anniversary of a 1953 workers uprising against Communist authorities in East Germany. REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch 

Former German Chancellor Kohl walks on stage during the 56th 'Bambi' media award ceremony in the northern German town of Hamburg. Former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl walks on stage during the 56th 'Bambi' media award ceremony in the northern German town of Hamburg November 18, 2004. Kohl presented the "Film National" award to the cast of the film "The Downfall' (Der Untergang) about Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler during the final days of World War II in Berlin. The German media company, Hubert Burda Media, honours celebrities from the world of entertainment, literature, sport and politics at its annual event. REUTERS/Christian Charisius 

Former Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany Dr. Helmut Kohl,
(R) speaks at the Unification Conference as Former U.S. president
George Bush (C) and Former Soviet President Mikhail S. Gorbachev look
on at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia, October 3,
2003. The Unification Conference brought together former world leaders
to discuss their perspective on the unification of Germany and the fall
of the Berlin wall. The conference is timed to allow for observance of
the 13th anniversary of the unification of Germany after the fall of
the Berlin Wall. REUTERS/Steve Schaefer

SS/GAC 

Former German chancellor Helmut Kohl pauses during the celebration of
the eleventh anniversary of German unification in Stuttgart October 3,
2001. Kohl was in charge as German chancellor when Germany was unified
eleven years ago. REUTERS/Tobias Schwarz

MAD/AA 

Former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl (R), his son Peter (L) holding the
hand of his wife Elif, and son Walter arrive at the Speyer cathedral
prior to a memorial service for Hannelore Kohl July 11, 2001. Hannelore
Kohl, who was 68, took her own life last week after a long illness. She
had suffered from a rare allergy to light that forced her to stay in
darkened rooms for the last 15 months of her life.

JOH 

HELMUT KOHL AND DAUGHTER IN LAW ELIF WALK BEHIND THE COFFIN OF
HANNELORE KOHL AFTER A MEMORIAL SERVICE IN SPEYER.


Former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl (R) and his daughter-in-law Elif
follow the coffin of Hannelore Kohl after a memorial service at the
Speyer cathedral July 11, 2001. Hannelore Kohl, who was 68, took her
own life last week after a long illness. She had suffered from a rare
allergy to light that forced her to stay in darkened rooms for the last
15 months of her life. 

A file photo from September 27, 1998 shows Hannelore Kohl and his husband former Chancellor Helmut Kohl on their way to cast their vote in Germany`s general elections in their hometown Oggersheim near Ludwigshafen in southwestern Germany. Police said the she was found dead in her home in Oggersheim July 5, 2001. In recent years the 68-year-old has been ill with a disease that makes its sufferers highly sensitive to daylight.

WR 

Former German chancellor Helmut Kohl accompanies the bride's mother as they follow his son Peter and bride Elif Sozen out of St. Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Basilica in central Istanbul May 26, 2001 following their marriage ceremony in the church. Peter Kohl, son of former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl, married Turkish Elif Sozen on Saturday in a ceremony including elements of Christian and Muslim marriage vows. 

Helmut Kohl, former German Chancellor and leader of the Christian Democratic Union party CDU wipes pieces of cake off his face after he was hit in the face with a cream cake during a book signing of his memoirs in Berlin November 30, 2000. Kohl was not injured and the male attacker was arrested by security. In his memoirs "Helmut Kohl, My Diary, 1998-2000", Kohl gets even with his enemies over a party funding scandal that sullied his reputation as the architect of German unity.

WR/WS 

Helmut Kohl, former German Chancellor and leader of the Christian Democratic Union party (CDU) wipes off crumbs after he was hit in the face with a cream cake during a book signing of his memoirs in Berlin November 30, 2000.

Kohl was not injured and the male attacker was arrested by security. In his memoirs "Helmut Kohl, My Diary, 1998-2000", Kohl gets even with his enemies over a party funding scandal that sullied his reputation as the architect of German unity. 

Former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl sits beside the chairwoman of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party Angelika Merkel (R) before a ceremony of the CDU to mark the 10th anniversary of German unification in Berlin October 1, 2000. Kohl has become a controversial figure in the CDU after his involvement in a party funding scandal that resulted in his own party not inviting him to speak at the official ceremonies marking the 10th anniversary of unification in Dresden on October 3.

MUR 

Former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl (R) sits next to Christian Democrat party (CDU) leader Angela Merkel (L) during celebrations to mark the 10th anniversary of German unification in Berlin September 27, 2000. Kohl has become a controversal figure in the CDU after his involvement in a party funding scandal which has led to the CDU not inviting him to speak at the official ceremonies marking the 10th anniversary of unification in Dresden on October 3.

MUR/AA 

Former German chancellor Helmut Kohl leaves a hearing in Berlin, July 6. Kohl has to testify to a parliamentary inquiry commission investigating illegal party funding under Kohl's leadership. 

Former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl is seen together with his lawyer Stephan Holthoff-Pfoertner (R) during a hearing in front of a parliamentary inquiry commission in Berlin June 29. Kohl has to testify to the commission investigating illegal party funding under Kohl's leadership.

MUR 

Former CDU leader and German Chancellor Helmut Kohl addresses journalists in the lobby of the Reichstag after a parliamentary debate, April 13. Kohl defended himself against new doubts about his explanations of his role of irregular party funding by the conservative Christian Democrats under his leadership.

RKR 

Former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl attends a debate at the lower house of parliament in Berlin, April 6. At the same time a parliamentary inquiry commission investigates irregular party funding by the conservative Christian Democrats under Helmut Kohl's leadership.

MUR/WS 

Former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl (L) is hugged by former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger as he arrives in front of the Hotel Adlon in Berlin March 30. 

Helmut Kohl, former German Chancellor and chairman of the Christian Democratic Union party, (CDU) looks down as CDU party secretary Angela Merkel reaches out her hand to exchange a handshake with Kohl ahead of a parliamentary session in the German lower house of parliament Bundestag March 17. Kohl returned to the parliament for the first time on Friday since a campaign finance scandal badly damaged his reputation as the man who reunified Germany.

WR 

Helmut Kohl (C), former German chancellor and Christian Democratic (CDU) chairman, accompanied by a bodyguard, comes up to the garden gate as he leaves his house in Berlin's Grunewald district January 26. [Germany's scandal-plagued Christian Democrats may yet take legal action against former leader and Chancellor Helmut Kohl, a senior party figure said]. 

Former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl leaves the podium after his speech during a ceremony at the Hamburg chamber of commerce January 19, 2000. Kohl, modern Germany's longest serving chancellor, resigned January 18 as honorary chairman of his Christian Democratic Union after the party issued him an ultimatum to clear up a financial scandal or quit. Kohl a conservative who held power for 16 years until 1998, said in a statement that it was a hard decision but that he was in no position to meet the party's demand that he name donors from whom he accepted illegal secret funds.

CLH/ 

FILE PHOTO 12MAY94 - Russian President Boris Yeltsin waves to the crowd as German Chancellor Helmut Kohl (L) helps out during a visit to the Speyer cathedral in Deidesheim, Germany, in this May 1994 file picture. Yeltsin announced his early retirement on Friday and said that Prime Minister Vladimir Putin would be Russia's acting President until the next election in three months time.

WAW/AA 

Helmut Kohl, former German Chancellor and leader of the conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) pushes TV crews away as he arrives to attend a CDU board meeeting in Berlin November 30. Kohl will answer questions in an emergency leadership meeting about allegations of dubious past financial dealings.
**DIGITAL IMAGE** 

Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev (R) and former German Chancelor Helmut Kohl (L) slap hands after a parliamentary session in the Reichstag building to remember the tenth anniversary of the opening of the Berlin Wall, November 9. Berlin celebrated the day the Wall came down on Tuesday, rejoicing on the 10th anniversary of the moment that sealed the end of the Cold War division of Europe. The then U.S. and Soviet presidents, George Bush and Mikhail Gorbachev, addressed parliament in the Reichstag, underlining the global significance of the event well beyond the personal joy of Berliners, whose divided lives were a symbol of East-West confrontation for four decades after the defeat of Hitler.

MUR/TB 

Former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl stands with US President Bill Clinton after he was decorated with the Medal of Freedom at the White House in Washington April 20. Kohl received the medal for his many years of good relations with the U.S.

MUR/RC 

German Chancellor Helmut Kohl (R) shows French President Jacques Chirac (L) his watch during a family picture May 3. European Union heads of state on Sunday agreed that 11 of the 15 EU member states would launch economic and monetary union on January 1, 1999, an official from the EU's British presidency said.

NK/UFM/SB 

Former German Chancellor Helmut Khol speaks to leaders of the European Union after receiving the Honorary European Citizenship at the Vienna Summit December 11. Weeks before the birth of the Euro single currency the leaders began a summit pressing for economic growth and job creation.

LF/NS 

Former Germany's Chancellor Helmut Kohl (2ndR) shakes hands with Britain's Prime Minister Tony Blair after receiving the Honorary European Citizenship at the Vienna summit December 11. L to R: Italy's Foreign Minister Lamberto Dini, Blair, Ireland Prime Minister Bertie Ahern, Italian Prime Minister Massimo S'Alema, Finland's Foreign Minister Tarja Halonen, Kohl and Austrian Chancellor Viktor Klima.
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Germany's new Social Democratic Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder (R) shakes hands with his outgoing predecessor Helmut Kohl after Schroeder was elected to succeed Kohl, at the lower house of parliament, the Bundestag in Bonn October 27.[ Schroeder, installed on Tuesday as Germany's seventh post-war chancellor, wants to create a "new beginning" for Germany with his "new centre" government. ] 

Outgoing German Chancellor Helmut Kohl greets Pope John Paul II during a private meeting at the Vatican October 10. Kohl is in Italy on a private visit. 

FILE PHOTO MAR93 - German Chancellor Helmut Kohl is embraced by US President Bill Clinton in this March 1993 file photo during a visit to the White House. Around 60.5 million eligible Germans are called to vote for a new parliament in the general election on Sunday September 27.

MUR 

FILE PHOTO JAN91 - Helmut Kohl (L) is sworn in for the 4th time as West German Chancellor in this January 17 1991 file photo. Around 60.5 million eligible Germans are called to vote for a new parliament in the general election on Sunday September 27.

MUR