Vitaly Churkin ‘A Forceful Presence’ on Security Council, Skilled Diplomat, Says Secretary-General in Tribute to Russian Federation’s Permanent Representative

The following statement by UN Secretary-General António Guterres was issued today:

I have just returned to New York and have learned with shock and sadness of the news of the sudden passing of Ambassador Vitaly Ivanovich Churkin, who was an outstanding diplomat.

Ambassador Churkin served the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation with distinction through some of the most challenging and momentous periods of recent history.

In 2006, he was appointed as the Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations.  For more than a decade, Ambassador Churkin was a forceful presence on the Security Council.

Ambassador Churkin was a uniquely skilled diplomat, a powerful orator with great wit and a man of many talents and interests.

Although we served together for a short time, I greatly appreciated the opportunity to work with him and will deeply miss his insights, skills and friendship.  I pay tribute to his contributions to the United Nations and offer my deepest condolences to his family and loved ones, and to the Government and people of the Russian Federation.