Tribute to Ambassador Vitaly Churkin on the second anniversary of his passing away, by Permanent Representatives to the United Nations
Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation Amb. Vassily Nebenzia: Thank you very much for coming. Today we commemorate the second anniversary of untimely, sudden and tragic death of Ambassador Vitaly Churkin. Ambassador Churkin, whom I'm sure many of you know personally, was a true son of his country, a sturdy defender of the Russian interests. At the same time, he was a champion of multilateralism. He enjoyed great respect of his colleagues, and you see here a group of ambassadors who knew him personally, who interacted with him, who were his friends, and we want together to mark this sad occasion.Thank you very much for being with us today, remembering Ambassador Vitaly Churkin.
Q: Ambassador Churkin said he loved the veto - that's what he told us. What would you say to that?
A: I wish to see as little vetoes in the Security Council as possible. My best moment in the Security Council was when I was a part of the history lifting sanctions - that was lifting sanctions of Eritrea. I hope to be more part of this history of success of the Security Council. Veto is an inevitable step sometimes but the less vetoes we are having there, the better.
Q: Why do you think that Ambassador Churkin made such a mark in this particular institution and especially in the Security Council?
A: He was born to be here. He was an outstanding diplomat and outstanding personality. People like this cannot pass unnoticed without leaving a mark on it.
Permanent Representative of Kazhakstan Amb. Kairat Umarov: I just would like to say that we all gathered here to pay homage to a very outstanding and striking diplomat. You are asking why Churkin is remembered? I should say that everyone who worked here or even watched from outside were looking at him as a diplomatic giant, the person who so zealously defending his country's position, but at the same time he actually could find the way to compromise and find the third way and concessions among countries. And you know, apart from the politics, he was a very human caring person, great intellectual, with witty humor, and he actually won the hearts of everyone here in the UN. He left the great mark behind him. He is considered to be a role model for many, many of other diplomats, and I think that his legacy is standing tall. He will be remembered here as a personality, as a diplomat and as a person who really tried to change the system here. He was very committed to multilateralism and to the UN, which we all try to defend today. I thank you.
Постоянный представитель Туркменистана Аксолтан Атаева: Уважаемые коллеги, я знала Посла Чуркина Виталия Ивановича 10 лет, с начала его работы в ООН и до самой его смерти. Это бы человек с большой буквы, патриот, герой России, гений дипломатии, который внес большой вклад в мировую дипломатию. Он останется в истории как человек талантливый, многосторонний. Я знала его еще как товарища, друга, прекрасного человека с открытой душой. Светлая ему память. Мы никогда не забудем Чуркина.
Permanent Representative of Morocco Amb. Omar Hilale: I just want to say that we will remember Ambassador Churkin with the highest appreciation because he was noy only a very high-skilled Ambassador here to represent his country with obligation, conviction, but he also was a man of compromise, man of consensus. We can like or dislike Churkin but we should recognize his human quality, his professional quality, and I believe that all the diplomats here will remember that he let his - I don't know how we say – skin off in here in the meetings of the Security Council and the General Assembly. May his soul rest in peace.
Permanent Representative of Palestine Amb. Riyad Mansour: Vitaly was a unique, great diplomat. He was a brilliant man, a kind man and he was a great friend of mine, and I was honored that when the Secretary-General honored us by giving us decoration as vintage ambassadors I was next to Vitaly Churkin and I remember that moment. I will keep it with me forever.
Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation Amb. Vassily Nebenzia: I would like to thank you and to thank my fellow Ambassadors for joining us today. You see, it is a big club, but it's not excusive. There are many more who knew and remember Ambassador Churkin. I thank you for your participation.
