Simon Wiesenthal, like few others personally felt the shadow of history in its brutality.

Peace must be more than the absence of war.

We were united not only by political respect for each other, but also by deep mutual sympathy as people.

Everybody should know that Germany will not go it alone: there will be no restless Reich.

Russia is Germany's most important neighbor in the East, and it will remain so.

You didn't just pay lip service to the goal of overcoming the division of Europe and Germany... Rather, you put yourself at the forefront of those who encouraged us on the way to unity.

I have been underestimated for decades. I've done very well that way.