MOSCOW, November 25 (RIA Novosti) - Alexis II, Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia-Primate of the Russian Orthodox Church, forwarded a telegram to Leonid Kuchma. He reassures Ukraine's incumbent President of heartfelt support of his efforts to bring back peace and accord to Ukrainian political developments.
"The Ukrainian nation is dear to my heart, and I pray for its current disorder to come to a peaceful and dignified end on the firm foundation of the law, in keeping with the people's will, and free of destructive influences from without.
"As I know, a majority of the Ukrainian nation is determined to make its country stronger, preserve its genuine independence and ethnic identity, and step up fraternal links with Russia.
"It is a heavy burden to rule a country, a duty that goes hand in hand with responsibilities for the fates of millions of people, and for the country's historic destinies," says His Beatitude.
