Patriarch Kirill congratulates newly-elected Abkhazian president

MOSCOW, August 28 (Itar-Tass) -- Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All
Russia has congratulated Alexander Ankvab on the election as President of
the Republic of Abkhazia.
"The support for your active civil position and the recognition of the
many-years-long experience of your work are evidence of Abkhazian
residents' striving to go the way of peace, development of inter-ethnic
cooperation and raising of the social and spiritual level of life," the
patriarch noted in the message published by his press service on Saturday.
The Russian Orthodox Church head expressed the hope that the
centuries-old cultural and religious traditions, common for the fraternal
peoples, will serve as a firm foundation for their broad cooperation.
The patriarch wished the new Abkhazian president long life and God's
almighty help in his hard service.