On 4 February 2026, a solemn ceremony was held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, to present the prestigious international Zayed Award for Human Fraternity. This year’s laureates are the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, and the Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan.
The award was presented to the leaders in recognition of their contributions to ending a long-standing conflict and their determination to achieve lasting peace in the region.
During his speech at the ceremony, President Ilham Aliyev emphasized that peace becomes a reality when both sides demonstrate firm resolve and receive international backing.
“Peace is possible when both sides show strong political will and when this process is supported by friendly countries and the international community,” Aliyev stated.
The President highlighted the symbolism of the venue, noting that the final round of negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan took place in Abu Dhabi in July of last year, just one month prior to the historic summit in Washington. It was during those talks that the parties reached a definitive agreement to establish peace, which was subsequently formalized in Washington.
“So today, the air is thick with symbolism, and I would like to once again express my gratitude to everyone who decided to honor us with this prestigious award, as well as to all those who helped us achieve peace,” the Azerbaijani President added.
Following him, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan underscored that the receipt of this award serves as further confirmation that the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan is now a closed chapter.
“The presentation of this award confirms once again that the page of conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan has been turned,” Pashinyan emphasized.
The Prime Minister characterized the award as an act of support from the international community, noting that efforts to ensure peace and strengthen trust between the two nations will continue.
The ceremony also featured an address by the Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders, Mohammed Abdelsalam. Furthermore, video messages of congratulations were sent by the leaders of Turkey, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, and Jordan. ///nCa, 5 February 2026