Lavrov urges to immortalise Vitaly Churkin

Russia’s former Ambassador to the UN Vitaly Churkin has left a bright impression in history of the Russian foreign policy and diplomacy, the Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said at the farewell ceremony.

"Today, we are saying farewell to our friend, an outstanding diplomat, man. Vitaly was the highest professional and a national diplomat," RBTH cited him as saying.

Lavrov said that the Russian diplomat will be immortalized. "There have been some proposals already, including from the public and foreign countries," RIA Novosti cited Lavrov as saying.

Vitaly Churkin died on Feb. 20, a day before his 65th birthday. He had been Russia’s UN ambassador since April 8, 2006, representing the country in the United Nations Security Council. According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, the ambassador died while on duty.