MOSCOW. Feb 21 (Interfax) - Moscow regrets the decision of the Ukrainian delegation to block Russia's proposal that the UN Security Council president releases a formal statement on the death of Russian Permanent Representative to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin.
"The UN community was deeply saddened by Churkin's death, and the Security Council released a press statement. It is a pity that some of our partners, primarily the Ukrainian colleagues who are presiding in the Security Council this month, have been unable to overcome their political viewpoint and gave no consent to releasing a formal statement by the UN Security Council president in the form of a document, limiting them to an oral statement of condolences," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Gennady Gatilov, who supervises UN affairs at the ministry, told Interfax.
Ukraine has been presiding at the UN Security Council since February 1.
Gatilov said he was maintaining 'daily' contacts with Churkin. "Of course, we not only had a working relationship but were also friends for many years," he said.
"We had actually been sharing the UN space, this international platform, for the past decade. Those were years of very fruitful cooperation. Vitaly Ivanovich was a diplomat of such experience that we understood each other perfectly and could solve any problems. This is vital where there is a need to act quickly. It's a specific feature of the work on the UN international platform, first and foremost the Security Council, when the settlement of acute regional conflicts and crises is a practically daily affair. Vitaly Ivanovich had no rivals in doing so, he won the respect of all partners at the UN Security Council and even those he often had to disagree with. He was acting in a highly professional manner and adamantly protecting foreign political interests of our country," Gatilov said.
"The passing of Vitaly Ivanov is a great loss to Russian diplomats, primarily those of us engaged in negotiating processes and the resolution of problems at the United Nations and the UN Security Council," he said.
"Vitaly Ivanovich shared his experience with young employees in an enthusiastic and skillful manner and, I believe, those who were lucky to work together with him will remember his profound professionalism and broad erudition," he said.