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A2 WORLD NEWS
Wednesday 22 February
More tests needed on Russian UN ambassador’s cause of death

JENNIFER PELTZ Vitaly Churkin, who died cludes toxicology and oth- gated by the office are not edgeable about diploma-
COLLEEN LONG Monday at age 64, had er screenings. Those can suspicious. cy and dedicated to his
Associated Press been Russia’s envoy at the take weeks. Churkin’s case was referred country while also being a
NEW YORK (AP) — Medical U.N. since 2006. He was the The medical examiner is re- to the medical examiner’s personable and witty col-
examiners who performed longest-serving ambassa- sponsible for investigating office by the hospital. Mos- league.
an autopsy on Russia’s dor on the Security Coun- deaths that occur by crimi- cow has not given a date “He could spot even the
ambassador to the United cil, the U.N.’s most power- nal violence, by accident, for Churkin’s funeral. narrowest opportunities to
Nations said Tuesday that ful body. by suicide, suddenly or Diplomatic colleagues find a compromise,” U.S.
more tests are needed to The city’s medical exam- when the person seemed from around the world Ambassador Nikki Haley
determine how and why iners concluded Churkin’s healthy or in any unusual mourned Churkin as a said Tuesday, calling Chur-
he fell ill in his office and death needed further or suspicious manner. master in their field, say- kin “brilliant, wise, gracious
later died at a hospital. study, which usually in- Most of the deaths investi- ing he was deeply knowl- and funny.”q

At UN, US envoy stresses ‘commitment’ to European alliances

JENNIFER PELTZ Ukraine.
Associated Press “The United States thinks
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — U.S. it’s possible to have a bet-
Ambassador Nikki Haley on ter relationship with Russia,”
Tuesday underlined Ameri- she said. “But greater co-
ca’s “total commitment” to operation with Russia can-
its European allies, echoing not come at the expense
recent assurances by other of the security of our Euro-
administration figures to pean friends and allies.”
European leaders anxious Russia’s first deputy U.N.
about President Donald ambassador, Petr Iliichev,
Trump. retorted that Ukraine was
Haley told U.N. Security engaging in “military mis-
Council members that adventures” and called on
Washington won’t waver colleagues to “seek recip-
in supporting the NATO rocally acceptable solu-
military alliance and “looks tions to crises in Europe.”
forward to improving our Ukrainian Foreign Minister
cooperation” with the Eu- Pavlo Klimkin, meanwhile,
ropean Union. accused Russia of pursu-
“The United States may, ing a strategy “to instigate,
from time to time, disagree participate, support and
with EU perspectives, as United States U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley delivers remarks in the United Nations Security Coun- then derail” in Ukraine.
friends do,” she said, but cil, Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2017. Haley also criticized Rus-
“no one should interpret (AP Photo/Richard Drew) sia’s recent decision to
occasional policy differ- While campaigning, Trump foreign leaders. flict has killed more than recognize passports issued
ences and debates as a had warm words for Rus- In recent days, Vice Presi- 9,800 people in three years. by separatist authorities in
signal of anything less than sian President Vladimir Pu- dent Mike Pence and A 2015 agreement aimed eastern Ukraine as “anoth-
total commitment to our al- tin, which rattled European other high-ranking mem- at ending the conflict er direct challenge to ef-
liances in Europe.” allies concerned about bers of Trump’s administra- helped reduce fighting, but forts to bring peace” there.
Some European leaders Russia’s aggressiveness, in- tion have been in Europe clashes have continued, Russia characterizes its de-
have been on edge about cluding its annexation of pledging America’s con- and violence escalated cision as a humanitarian
Trump, who once called Ukraine’s Crimea Peninsula. tinued partnership with its earlier this month. move to help people who
NATO “obsolete,” has Since becoming president, allies and continued pres- At the U.N., Haley under- live in rebel-held regions
been supportive of Britain’s Trump has tempered his sure on Russia to do its part scored the administration’s blockaded by Ukrainian na-
vote last year to leave the rhetoric about Russia and to end fighting between assurances and reiterated tionalists and says it doesn’t
28-nation EU and has taken stressed the importance Ukrainian forces and Rus- that U.S. sanctions on Rus- amount to recognizing the
aim at multinational trade of NATO during telephone sia-backed separatists in sia will remain in place rebel regions.q
deals. conversations with multiple eastern Ukraine. The con- until Crimea is returned to
Kremlin stays mum on new US national security adviser

V. ISACHENKOV Gen. Michael Flynn. Trump on what is Trump’s pre- improve U.S. ties with Rus- countered an array of
Associated Press fired Flynn last week after it rogative to make an ap- sia have raised expecta- challenges and faced a
MOSCOW (AP) — The Krem- was determined that Flynn pointment. Peskov said in tions of a thaw between strong opposition in Con-
lin refrained from comment had misled Vice President a conference call with re- the two countries. Relations gress to a rapprochement
Tuesday on the appoint- Mike Pence about the na- porters that “it’s important between Washington and with Russia.
ment of the new U.S. na- ture of his discussions with to us how our relations will Moscow have plunged to While Peskov spoke with
tional security adviser, but Russia’s ambassador to the develop and what attitude their lowest point since the caution, Frants Klintsevich,
one lawmaker said he was U.S. during the presidential Washington will take.” Cold War over the Ukraini- a deputy head of the de-
likely to take a hawkish transition. “We are patiently following an crisis, the Syrian war and fense and security affairs
stance toward Russia. Asked about how the Krem- our American partners de- allegations of Russian med- committee in the upper
Army Lt. Gen. H.R. McMas- lin views the appointment, termining their stance,” he dling in the U.S. election. house of parliament, de-
ter was named to the job President Vladimir Putin’s added. The Kremlin has taken a scribed McMaster as a “100
Monday by President Don- spokesman Dmitry Peskov Trump’s praise for Putin and wait-and-see approach percent hawk” who repre-
ald Trump to replace retired said he wouldn’t comment his campaign promises to recently as Trump has en- sents a threat.q