First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia Ivica Dacic sent a message of condolences to Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergey Lavrov at the demise of the Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations in New York, Ambassador Vitaliy Churkin.

"We were stunned by the news of a sudden and premature death of Russia's Ambassador to the United Nations Vitaliy Churkin.

With his passing, Russia has lost an outstanding diplomat and a true patriot, while the Republic of Serbia has lost an honest friend and colleague.

Ambassador Churkin was a fine diplomat and genuine representative of Russia's school of high-level diplomacy.

At these difficult moments, I extend to you and the colleagues of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation profound and heartfelt condolences, along with sentiments of comfort and support for the Churkin family - on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia and on my own behalf,", says the message from Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic.