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Churkin knew how to sustain real dialogue — NATO’s Deputy Assistant Secretary General

Russia’s Ambassador to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin died in New York on Monday, a day before his 65th birthday

BRUSSELS, February 21. /TASS/. Russia’s Ambassador to the UN Vitaly Churkin was a bridge builder who knew how to sustain a real dialogue, Jamie Shea, Deputy Assistant Secretary General of NATO and former spokesman of the organization (1993-2000), told TASS.

"I have learned with sadness today of the death of Ambassador Churkin in New York. I remember him well from the time when he was Russia's Ambassador to NATO in the mid-1990s. Ambassador Churkin was a former spokesman and a gifted communicator. As a skilled and experienced diplomat, he was keen to explain Russia's position to the NATO allies. Yet during this happier time in the NATO Russia relationship, he was also a bridge builder who could find common ground and sustain a real dialogue," Shea said.

"So let his experience serve as an example to all of us and may his soul rest in peace," he said.

Russia’s Ambassador to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin died in New York on Monday, a day before his 65th birthday.

Churkin was born in Moscow on February 21, 1952 into the family of an aviation design engineer. He has been Russia’s Ambassador to the United Nations since April 8, 2006.

President Vladimir Putin, Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev offered condolences over the death of the diplomat.