DUSHANBE, 13.03.2017. /NIAT «Khovar»/. The United Nations General Assembly will convene a commemorative meeting on March 21 to honor the late Russia’s Permanent Representative, Vitaly Churkin, who died suddenly on February 20, TASS reported citing Daniel Thomas, Spokesperson for the President of 71th session of the General Assembly.

He said the meeting will be opened by the president of the 71st session, Peter Thomson, who will come out with an initiative of the commemorative event.

Such commemorative meetings are typically convened to honor heads of state and prominent politicians. The latest such meeting was held to pay tribute to Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro who died in November 2016 at the age of 90. A month before that, the United Nations General Assembly honored Thailand’s late King Bhumibol Adulyadej.

Vitaly Churkin, who had held the position of Russia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations since April 8, 2006, died on February 20, just a day ahead of his 65th birthday. The Russian foreign ministry said he had died while on duty. Churkin was buried in Moscow on February 24. President Vladimir Putin awarded the Order of Courage to him posthumously.