European Parliament president Pat Cox paid tribute Wednesday to Austrian President Thomas Klestil, who has died aged 71.

"On behalf of the European Parliament and in my own name I send my deepest condolences on the sad news of the death of President Thomas Klestil to his wife and family, and to the government and people of Austria," Cox said.

"I recall and pay tribute to his deep sense of service to the Austrian people and the calm and effective diplomacy which he so unfailingly displayed over many years," the Irish head of the EU assembly said in a statement.

Klestil died late Tuesday in a Viennese hospital following a heart attack, just two days before his second six-year term as president was due to end.