SYDNEY: President Bako Sahakyan has confirmed prominent member of the Armenian-Australian community, Kaylar Michaelian as the new Permanent Representative of the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh to Australia.

Michaelian, a former Principal of Galstaun College and current Chairman of Armenia Media, Inc., has taken over the post from Varoujan Iskenderian, who resigned after 16 years serving in this role.

Michaelian formally received his Commission from President Sahakyan in Stepanakert on the 20th of October, 2015.

Kaylar Michaelian was quick to praise the work of Iskenderian.

"I thank Mr and Mrs Varoujan and Sylvia Iskenderian for their dedicated and longstanding service to the Republic of Artsakh and its people," he said.

Michaelian said he was "humbled" by this call to serve.

He said: "I am humbled to be called upon to serve the heroic people of Artsakh. The Australian-Armenian community has a proud tradition of standing alongside our brothers and sisters of Artsakh in their hours of need, and today we must build on that tradition, to ensure that the victorious people of Artsakh are able to determine their own future and to live in peace on their ancestral lands with the dignity reserved for all human beings."

"I will be counting on each individual within our community to help achieve this noble goal," Michaelian concluded.

The Armenian Revolutionary Federation of Australia Tro Gomide congratulated Michaelian on his appointment.

"It is an honour to serve Artsakh, and we congratulate Mr. Kaylar Michaelian on being bestowed this honour and we look forward to working alongside him to advance the interests of our brothers and sisters in the land we know to be the heartbeat of our motherland," said ARF Australia Chairman, Haig Kayserian.

ARF Australia also thanked Iskenderian with a letter, which read:

"We congratulate you on your 16 years of service... In this day and age, such diligent service over such a long period of time needs to be celebrated and held up as an example to all. We trust you will look back on your period in this important role with great memories and a sense of fulfilment."

"No doubt, the recognition of the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh and of the rights to self-determination for the Armenians of said Republic by the government of New South Wales, will be regarded as one of the greatest successes our community achieved during your service."

"The “Mkhitar Gosh” medals you received from the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Nagorno Karabakh, respectively, highlight the regard in which you are held in Armenia, Artsakh and the Armenian world. We sincerely congratulate you on these achievements and your service."

"Mrs Sylvia Iskenderian and yourself have become part of the fabric of our community during the last two decades, and we expect you stay ever-present despite your resignation from this post."

"We wish you and your family the very best in your future endeavours."