The awarding ceremony of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity was held in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, on February 4.

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev attended the event.

The ceremony began with the playing of the national anthem of the United Arab Emirates.

A video dedicated to the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity was then screened.

Mohamed Abdelsalam, Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders, delivered an address.

Congratulatory video messages to the laureates of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity were presented by President of the Republic of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Zhaparov, President of the Republic of Lebanon Joseph Aoun, First Lady of Türkiye Emine Erdoğan, and King Abdullah II of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan:

- Distinguished guests,

My dear friends from various countries participating in this event,

I greet you with my most sincere feelings of respect and love.

I sincerely hope that the 2026 Zayed Award for Human Fraternity will be beneficial for all of us, especially the awardees.

I am very pleased to convey to you the greetings of your 86 million brothers and sisters in Türkiye.

I also hope that the awards presented since 2019 will directly contribute to peace and stability throughout the world in the times we live in.

I sincerely congratulate the President of Azerbaijan, Mr. Ilham Aliyev, and the Prime Minister of Armenia, Mr. Nikol Pashinyan, who have been decorated with this year’s awards. I would like to emphasize that I consider both the courageous steps taken by my brother Ilham Aliyev and the resolute approach demonstrated by Mr. Pashinyan to be extremely important for the establishment of lasting peace.

I firmly believe that a new page will be opened in the future of the Caucasus with the entry into force of the agreement, the purpose, scope, content, and spirit of which both sides have agreed upon.

As Türkiye, we sincerely support all initiatives aimed at peace, security, prosperity, and stability in our region and around the world. We will continue, Inshallah, to do whatever we can to establish lasting peace in the Caucasus and to work diligently to build bridges of friendship based on justice.

With these thoughts, I once again congratulate both the President of Azerbaijan, Mr. Ilham Aliyev, and the Prime Minister of Armenia, Mr. Nikol Pashinyan.

I sincerely hope that the 2026 Zayed Award for Human Fraternity will be beneficial for all humanity. I greet you all with love and respect.

Thank you. Be well, and stay safe!

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President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev:

- Your Highnesses, Excellencies, distinguished guests,

I sincerely congratulate President Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on receiving the Sheikh Zayed Award for Human Fraternity. It recognizes wise leadership that chose peace over the logic of confrontation, responsibility over resentment, and the future over the past. At a time when the world is increasingly divided, such a policy carries exceptional moral and political significance.

The progress made by Azerbaijan and Armenia toward a peace agreement marks a turning point of historic importance. It demonstrates that even long-standing conflicts can be resolved through dialogue, responsibility, and restraint. In an era marked by confrontation and rigid lines of division, this experience shows that reconciliation is not weakness, but strength, as Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, and Armenia are close, friendly, and brotherly nations.

We highly value the trust shown to our country, including the decision to hold a critical stage of the peace negotiations in Almaty. This reflects our shared belief that dialogue remains the only sustainable path forward. Kazakhstan consistently supports initiatives that strengthen peace, trust, and cooperation across Eurasia and beyond.

The Sheikh Zayed Award carries a powerful moral message. It affirms fraternity as a universal principle and a practical foundation for security, development, and human dignity. It embodies the enduring legacy of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, grounded in tolerance, mutual respect, and peaceful coexistence.

In this regard, I would like to express my sincere appreciation to His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, for his consistent commitment to upholding these values. These principles are most clearly reflected in concrete political outcomes. Peace and cooperation between Azerbaijan and Armenia have given renewed substance to this legacy and demonstrated its relevance far beyond the region. They have also strengthened confidence in diplomacy as a viable instrument of international relations.

Dear President Aliyev, dear Prime Minister Pashinyan, your strong commitment to peace has given hope to millions and sent a clear signal to the global community that good-neighborly relations and stability are among the highest values in global affairs. You both have shown wisdom and insight.

I am convinced that through diplomacy, anchored in balance and common sense, we can all shape a more stable and predictable future.

Thank you.

x x x

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev:

- The distinguished President of the United Arab Emirates, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan,

Your Excellency, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev,

Your Excellency, Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan,

Ladies and gentlemen,

In today’s volatile world, there is a great need for responsible leaders, unwavering political determination, and the solution of problems through dialogue. In the current complex international situation, decisions made in such a way can create a foundation of stability and strong trust between states and peoples. However, the priceless blessing of peace does not come on its own. Peace requires the courage to listen to others, find ways to compromise even in the most difficult circumstances, and take responsibility for the decisions made.

History shows that long-term and sustainable growth can only be achieved through compromise and an atmosphere of mutual respect and esteem. It is a great honor for me to sincerely congratulate the laureates of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity, His Excellency President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and His Excellency Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan. It is beyond doubt that the joint efforts of these political leaders for the sake of a reasonable resolution of the protracted conflict and the achievement of peace are well worth such a prestigious award. The agreement reached is a vivid example of a responsible approach to solving the problem and a historic step taken toward ensuring stability in our entire region.

In this respect, the fact that such a high award is being presented to statesmen is also a clear confirmation of the spirit of friendship, solidarity, and new cooperation that has emerged in one of the important regions of the world. We are in favor of resolving any dispute or conflict solely through political and diplomatic means, on the basis of international law and good-neighborliness. Today, we can ensure common peace and well-being for our people only through unity, mutual support, and partnership. The fact that this award, named after the great Sheikh Zayed, is being presented to such worthy candidates once again proves this eternal truth.

I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude to the leadership of the United Arab Emirates for its invaluable contribution to the active promotion of humanitarian initiatives in the international arena, the consistent strengthening of dialogue, and the transformation of Abu Dhabi into a global center of peace. I am confident that such noble and benevolent deeds will give new impetus to the common efforts of the international community to ensure peace and security. I wish you good health, happiness, and great success in your honorable activities.

Thank you for your attention.

x x x

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif:

- Bismillahirrahmanirrahim,

Your Highnesses, Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,

It gives me immense pleasure to extend my heartiest congratulations to my very dear brother, His Excellency President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan, on being conferred with the prestigious Zayed Award for Human Fraternity. This momentous recognition, honoring the enduring legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and his timeless vision of peace and coexistence, reflects the UAE’s visionary leadership and its emergence as a leading center of global diplomacy.

Ladies and gentlemen, in a world marred by division and conflict, President Aliyev’s bold and courageous leadership has always stood out. This vision and foresight were evident when he set aside long-standing differences, embraced peace, and fostered harmony through the historic peace agreement with Armenia. This landmark agreement, which ended a conflict of nearly four decades, exemplifies the very essence of human fraternity, solidarity, compassion, and shared humanity that the Zayed Award so profoundly celebrates.