Putin offers condolences to Germany upon passing of Helmut Schmidt, points at his contribution to good neighborliness - Kremlin
MOSCOW. Nov 10 (Interfax) - Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a telegram with condolences to Germany's Federal President Joachim Gauck and Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel on the occasion of the passing of Former Federal Chancellor Helmut Schmidt, the Kremlin press service said in a report on Tuesday.
"The head of the Russian state has highly appreciated the role of this outstanding statesman of post-war Germany in European and world politics, and his considerable personal contribution to the development and strengthening of the relations of good neighborliness and partnership between the two countries and the two peoples," the report said.
Putin offered his condolences to Schmidt's family and friends.
It was reported earlier that 96-year-old Schmidt died on Tuesday in Hamburg following a rapid deterioration of his health condition. Schmidt was sent to hospital early in September due to a harmful embolism in his right leg. Schmidt was the fifth federal chancellor in Germany. He served in this post between 1974 and 1982.