The message reads, in part:
“From its very launch, Vremya proved to be a striking addition to Russian television, laid down traditions of news broadcasting and became a landmark event in the life of the country.
Importantly, even despite the advent of new cutting-edge information technology and communications, the programme has not ceased to attract wide audiences just as it did 50 years ago.
I am certain that professional excellence, acquired skills, openness to new experiences and respect for the creative heritage of your predecessors will help you to continue working successfully and resolving the tasks at hand.”
Vremya is a Russian television programme broadcast by Channel One (since 1995), and earlier by the Central Television of the USSR (1968 – 1991), the All-Union State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company (1991) and the Ostankino Russian State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company (1994–1996). The programme has been broadcast daily, except on December 31 and January 1, at 9 pm Moscow time since 1972. It was launched on January 1, 1968.