STEPANAKERT, JANUARY 29, NOYAN TAPAN. The President of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic Bako Sahakian sent a message of congratulation to the newly-elected Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kiril. The text of the message was submitted to NT by the Central Information Department of the Office of the NKR President. The message reads: "On behalf of the authorities and people of the NKR, I cordially congratulate you on election as Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia. Your personal qualities and experience, knowledge and firm faith form a reliable basis for successfully implementing the hard and important mission of the head of the Russian Orthodox Church. I am convinced that under your direction the links between the Russian Orthodox Church and the Armenian Apostolic Church will deepen even more, which will have a positive effect on the further strengthening of Russian-Armenian relations. I congratulate you once again and wish you peace, happiness, good health and success in all your undertakings".

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