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NEW DELHI, June 17 (Xinhua) -- Indian President Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday condoled the death of Helmut Kohl, Germany's former chancellor and the chief architect of reunification in 1990, calling him "a towering statesman and friend of India."

"Heartfelt condolences on demise of former German Chancellor Mr Helmut Kohl, a towering statesman and friend of India," the president tweeted.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on Friday condoled 87-year-old Kohl's death, hours after the former German leader passed away at his home in Ludwigshafen in the Rhineland.

"Our condolences at the demise of Helmut Kohl -- statesman, architect of German unification and ardent believer in European integration. Helmut Kohl visited India in 1986 and 1993. We value his contribution in strengthening India-Germany ties," Modi tweeted.

Kohl led Germany for 16 years - from 1982 to 1998 - and is credited with bringing East and West Germany together after the fall of the Berlin Wall. Together with his French ally, President Francois Mitterrand, he was responsible for the introduction of the Euro.