Valentina Matvienko
The Chairman of the Federation Council Valentina Matvienko considers that it is early to talk about who could replace the deceased Vitaly Churkin, the post of Russia’s Ambassador to the United Nations (UN). This opinion was expressed by the Senator on Tuesday, February 21, RIA Novosti reported.
“Even unethical to speak about it yet, even unethical,” said Matvienko. She added that to find a worthy candidate for this position will be extremely difficult, as Churkin was a man of “higher skills”.
It stressed that the diplomat “died in the line of duty, because in recent times due to strong external environment in the Security Council he had, of course, to defend the position of Russia hard, it was constant tension.”
The head of the Federation Council Committee on international Affairs Konstantin Kosachev in an interview with National news service (NSN), in turn, Churkin called a great patriot of Russia.
In addition, he explained that the position of representative to the UN for a country that is a permanent member of the security Council, implies the possession of all issues on the international agenda. “The ability to navigate the rapidly changing situation and willingness to take on certain positions, which are sometimes produced without an opportunity to consult with the center. All these qualities were inherent Vitaly Ivanovich in full”, — said Kosachev.
Churkin, who held the post of permanent representative of Russia to the UN since 2006, died on February 20. He was 64 years old. According to the newspaper the New York Post, about 09:30 local time (17:30 GMT), the diplomat felt unwell due to “heart problems”, the death was caused by a heart attack.
The official representative of Russian foreign Ministry Maria Zakharova, commenting on the incident, Churkin called “a great diplomat and an extraordinary personality”. On the same day, the official Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that President Vladimir Putin was saddened to learn of the death of the Ambassador. According to him, the President appreciated the professionalism and diplomatic skill Churkin.