Remembering Ambassador Vitaly Churkin: The face of new Russia & its diplomacy

Dr Alexander Yakovenko
RT
Tue, 21 Feb 2017 15:33 UTC

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Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin

Working at a United Nations mission in New York differs a lot from any embassy. Especially when it's the mission of a permanent member of the Security Council.

With the war in Iraq, intervention in Libya, and crises in Syria and Ukraine the last ten years when Vitaly Churkin represented Russia at the UN have undoubtedly been the busiest and most strenuous. On all these issues there were serious differences between the major powers, which required multilateral diplomacy. On many occasions there were non-stop, marathon sessions looking to reach a consensus, and find some common ground as a basis for international action.

All of it required an experienced diplomat and a bright personality at the head of our mission, which Vitaly Churkin was. Of course, he acted on instructions from Moscow, but he defended Russia's position with intelligence and eloquence that gained him respect, even if sometimes it wasn't enough to bridge the differences. This is made abundantly clear by the international response to his passing, including from his colleagues in New York.

He was one the best representatives of his generation in Russia's diplomatic service. He always spoke up, never minced words. He was one of the first Russian diplomats, who defied the orthodox convention of speaking stale bureaucratese and, thus, helped make diplomacy human and accessible to all.

In fact, it was his generation, that took upon themselves the responsibility for new Russia, and he rightfully became one of many faces of our country and its diplomacy. His work and personality explain why his generation, with a broad view of things not constrained by any ideology or dogma, was able to reestablish continuity in our history and diplomatic tradition, well in line with the imperatives of our time.

Comment: Russian FM Lavrov also shared his thoughts on Churkin:

Remembering their decades of friendship and shared diplomatic service, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has spoken of how he "walked through life side by side" with the late Russian Ambassador to the UN Vitaly Churkin, who died on Monday.

The Russian Foreign Ministry's official Facebook account shared Lavrov's emotional post dedicated to his "colleague and friend."

Saying that Churkin "passed away in the line of duty, just several hours before his 65th birthday, Moscow time," Lavrov remembered how Churkin had celebrated his 42nd birthday in the early 1990s. It was in Sarajevo, "where snipers did their work on a daily basis," Lavrov wrote.

The two diplomats were appointed as deputy foreign ministers "simultaneously" in the spring of 1992, Lavrov wrote, explaining that he was in charge of work at the UN back then, while Churkin was serving in the Balkans.

Praising the late diplomat's efforts to settle the crisis in the former Yugoslavia, Lavrov shared a poem he wrote for Churkin in 1994.
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The important thing for a diplomat, Lavrov added, is "the ability to advocate the interests of one's country, without falling into unrestrained confrontation, looking for possibilities to unite efforts, based on the balance of interests.

"The best way to pay respect to our friend will be to continue working on creating the basis for a calmer, safer, more democratic world," the Russian foreign minister went on to say.

More coverage on Churkin's sudden passing:

• American journalist stoops to new low, claims Churkin dead because he 'knew too much' after 'recruiting Trump to the USSR'
• 'Still looking for Iraqi WMDs?' Top quotes from the career of Vitaly Churkin
• Remembering Ambassador Vitaly Churkin: The face of new Russia & its diplomacy
• Putin awards Russian ambassador to UN Churkin Order of Courage posthumously
• Churkin to RT in his last interview: Diplomats' job more hectic than ever, but we like being busy
• Lavrov slams Ukraine for blocking UN Statement on Churkin
• Russian ambassador to UN Vitaly Churkin has died suddenly in New York, one day before turning 65

Update (Feb. 22): The White House released a statement from Trump on Churkin's passing

And UN Ambassador Nikki Haley:

Sec. of State Tillerson spoke with FM Lavrov by phone. The Russian Foreign Ministry released a statement on the call:

"On behalf of the US leadership, the Secretary expressed his deep condolences on the unexpected death of Russia's Permanent Representative to the UN, Amb. Vitaly Churkin, who was well known to many Americans," the statement reads. "An exchange of opinions on relevant international issues and issues concerning the bilateral agenda also took place," the statement concludes.