Ukrainian diplomats honored former Foreign Minister Hennadiy Udovenko in Kyiv on Wednesday.

An Interfax-Ukraine reporter said that the events took place at the Baikove cemetery in the presence of Ukrainian Foreign Minister Leonid Kozhara, senior Foreign Ministry officials and diplomats.

Kozhara said that Udovenko had always remained "an ordinary man, who was an extremely talented organizer with positive energy."

"We are proud that we were his colleagues and associates. Memory of Hennadiy Yosypovych [Udovenko] will always remain with us," he said.

Kozhara also said that Udovenko would forever remain a symbol of Ukrainian diplomacy.

Udovenko died at the age of 81 in Kyiv on February 12. He headed the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry in 1994-1998 and was president of the 52nd session of the UN General Assembly in 1997-1998.

He also served as head of the People's Movement of Ukraine from May 14, 1999 to May 3, 2003.