17 April 2017
April 17th, the Moscow International Model United Nations (CMIMUN-2017) was kicked off at MGIMO-Moscow. The Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and MGIMO Rector Anatoly Torkunov made the joint decision to name the model after the remarkable Russian diplomat Vitaly Churkin.
The event gathered 632 delegates from 62 countries and the number of foreign participants significantly increased compared to last year. At the opening ceremony, Anatoly Torkunov welcomed the delegates, related the history of the model UN and announced that the model would commemorate Vitaly Churkin, who dedicated many years of his life to serving his country and to upholding the ideals of the United Nations as they are described in the UN Charter.
The Director of the Department of International Organizations at the Russian Foreign Ministry extended a warm welcome to the guests on behalf of Sergey Lavrov and emphasized the importance of youth diplomacy. The Director of the United Nations Information Center in Moscow, Vladimir Kuznetsov, read out the words of encouragement sent to the participants by the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
After the ceremony, the Secretary-General of the Churkin Moscow International Model UN 2017 Ekaterina Rogacheva opened the model and wished participants fruitful negotiations. The event will last until April 21st.
— See the MGIMO web-site for more photos and russian version
