YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 22, ARMENPRESS. Armenia’s minister of foreign affairs Edward Nalbandian extended condolence on the death of Russia’s Permanent Representative to the UN Vitaly Churkin, RIA Novosti reported.

The minister said he was shocked to learn about the passing of the diplomat. In his words, he knew Churkin back from the years of joint work in the Soviet foreign ministry. “He was a bright diplomat, a bright man. We knew each other for a long time, we always had good meetings. Those were as if holidays, which are always with you. It is difficult to imagine that he isn’t with us anymore, I don’t want to talk about him in the past tense”, Nalbandian said.