. >> for me as a social democrat i had a lot of differences withhelmut kohl.an active in european politics i consider him a figure of outstanding significance for our era. correspondent: leaders around the world also painter butte. -- paying tribute. in brussels, flags at half mast. the european president praising him as a great european. the russian president: him a wise friend. the former u.s. president george bush senior said he was the greatest european leader of the second half of the 20 century. old friends and colleagues visited to offer condolences to his widow. but the door was not open to every visitor. it remains closed to the former chancellor's son by his first wife, and his grandchildren. they learned of his death on the radio. >> my father had broken all contact with a lot of people around him, including all of his family, my brother, me and his grandchildren, who really suffered at not being able to contact her grandfather. i do not want to say anything more at thime. i can only express my sorrow and grief he has died and it all happened in thi