At the permanent mission of Russia to the UN in new York held a farewell ceremony with Vitaly Churkin, who died 20 Feb. According to RIA news, the funeral event was attended by about 100 people — members of the mission, the permanent representatives of member countries of the United Nations, UN Secretary-General.
A farewell speech was made by the widow Irina Churkina and his son Maxim, Russian Ambassador in Washington Sergey Kislyak, Deputy of the Russian Ambassador Pyotr Ilyich and Vladimir Safronkov, UN Secretary-General, antónio Guterres, as well as the permanent representatives of the US, Nikki Haley, Colombia Maria Emma Velez and Kazakhstan Kairat Umarov.
Guterres noted the “unquestioned authority” Churkin in the UN Security Council and the respect which he enjoyed among his colleagues. Haley, in turn, expressed regret that she never got to work with a diplomat longer. However, she added that a personal meeting Churkin “couldn’t not like it”, reports TASS. According to her, the death of the diplomat was a loss not only for Russia but also for the UN.
The coffin Churkin will be sent to Russia on Wednesday evening, February 22. The ceremonies in Moscow is scheduled for February 24.
On 21 February President of Russia Vladimir Putin awarded the diplomat of the order of Courage posthumously. In his message of condolences directed to the spouse of the diplomat, the Russian leader noted that Churkin was one of the most distinguished diplomats and a true patriot.
Vitaly Churkin died in new York on Monday, February 20, the day before your 65th birthday. According to the newspaper The New York Post, in the morning, the diplomat felt ill due to “heart problems” in a serious condition he was taken to a hospital, but doctors were unable to save his life.
Churkin held the post of Russia’s envoy at the UN since 2006.