World Leaders Pay Last Tribute to George H. W. Bush

"President George H. W. Bush led a long, successful and beautiful life. Whenever I was with him I saw his absolute joy for life and true pride in his family. His accomplishments were great from beginning to end. He was a truly wonderful man and will be missed by all!" Donald Trump tweeted.

Former US President Barack Obama also expressed his condolences noting that Bush was a patriot and a humble servant who "did tremendous good" in his service as the head of state.

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"Reducing the scourge of nuclear weapons and building a broad international coalition to expel a dictator [former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein] from Kuwait. And when democratic revolutions bloomed across Eastern Europe, it was his steady, diplomatic hand that made possible an achievement once thought anything but — ending the Cold War without firing a shot," Obama said in a statement.

Later in the day, US Vice President Mike Pence sent his condolences to the Bush family.

​Another US official, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, praised the late former president Bush stressing that he was 'privileged to have known him as a friend'.

In addition, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) managing director, Christine Lagarde, praised late US President George H. W. Bush for his commitment to create a better future for people and also for promoting international cooperation.

"As a Congressman, Ambassador, Vice President, and President, George H.W. Bush believed deeply in the power of international cooperation. The arc of his career — from World War II pilot to the President who helped heal divisions at the end of the Cold War — was defined by a commitment to creating a more prosperous and peaceful future for all people," Lagarde said in a statement, released by the IMF.

She qualified Bush's work as a "powerful and timely" reminder of what could be achieved when nations worked together.

European leaders also paid tribute to the late US president. French President Emmanuel Macron said that Bush was "a world leader, who strongly supported the alliance with Europe."

The UK prime minister, on her part, called Bush "a true friend" to her country and a reliable counterpart of Margaret Thatcher and John Mayor, who chaired the UK cabinet during Bush's presidency.

"His statesmanship, wisdom and friendship will be much missed and today we send our deepest condolences to his family and to the American people," May tweeted.

One more EU official who paid tribute to Bush was European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker who qualified late US President as a "leader who was an example" to everyone.

"The world has lost a statesman and a leader who was an example to us all. I personally have lost a friend," Juncker said in a statement, released by the European Commission.

Juncker praised Bush for serving the United States "with honor, bravery and dignity," adding that Bush's presidency had come "at a time of enormous change and instability across the world."

German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas recalled in his statement Bush's significant contribution to the reunification of Germany.

"In 1989, at a watershed moment when the blocs were tested and their decades-long confrontation began to crumble, he bravely seized the opportunity to end the Cold War. He, too, is an architect of German unity. He supported it without reservation from the very beginning — and that we shall never forget," Maas said, as quoted by the ministry.

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In addition, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed condolences over the passing of former US President George H. W. Bush and lauded his contribution to the Russian-US cooperation on international security.

"Understanding the importance of the constructive dialogue between the two major nuclear powers, George H. W. Bush did a lot to strengthen the Russian-US cooperation on international security," the president said in a telegram addressed Bush's son, George W. Bush.

Putin also expressed his condolences to the family of the late former president.

Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev highlighted Bush's contribution to the development of the Russian-US relations and said that Russia would always honor him as an outstanding man.

Top Middle-East officials, including UAE President Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Emir of Kuwait Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah also sent their condolences to Bush's family, according to local media.

In addition, Kosovo leader Hashim Thaci wrote on his Facebook that his country would always remember Bush's role in Kosovo's independence.

"Kosovo and the Albanians will remember him as the first president who made it clear for the regime [of former Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic] in the beginning of the 1990s that Kosovo for the United States was the line that was not to be crossed. Our condolences to the Bush family and the American people," Thacic said.

The world leaders' condolences come after George H. W. Bush, who served as the 41st president of the United States from 1989 to 1993, died at the age of 94 on Friday.

Bush was born on June 12, 1924 in Massachusetts. He studied at Phillips Academy Andover boarding school and enlisted in the US Navy at the age of 18. Bush received a Distinguished Flying Cross for bravery when fighting on the Pacific front of the World War II.

Bush lost the 1980 presidential campaign and occupied the position of the vice president in 1981-1989 with Ronald Reagan as the head of state.

In 1988, Bush beat Michael Dukakis in the nationwide presidential election.

A year later, Bush held a summit with then Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in Malta marking the demise of the Cold War and two years later the two leaders signed the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty.