STEPANAKERT. – A ceremony of awarding individuals who have recorded outstanding achievements in various domains of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic (NKR, or Artsakh), and a group of NKR Defense Army servicemen and Karabakh War veterans, took place Monday at the Office of the President.

In addition, Artsakh athletes, who achieved high results in 2015, were handed financial rewards, reported the Central Information Department of the Office of the NKR President.

In his remarks President Sahakyan stressed that the state very much valued and appreciated patriotic activity and service, and expressed the hope that these awards will give impetus to raising the work productivity on a consistent basis.

The President also congratulated those in attendance on the coming New Year and Armenian Christmas (January 6) holidays.

Archbishop Pargev Martirosyan—who is Primate of the Artsakh Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church—, NKR National Assembly President Ashot Ghulyan, Prime Minister Arayik Haroutyunyan, and several other officials also were on hand at the event.