Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan and his wife Anna Hakobyan attended the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity 2026 ceremony in Abu Dhabi.
The event was also attended by President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, Secretary General of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity Mohamed Abdelsalam, former President of the European Council and former Prime Minister of Belgium Charles Michel, Prefect of the Dicastery of Culture and Education of the Holy See His Eminence Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça, and other high-ranking officials.
The Armenian delegation also included Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Mher Grigoryan, Secretary of the Security Council Armen Grigoryan, Chief of Staff of the Prime Minister Arayik Harutyunyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs Ararat Mirzoyan, and Vice President of the National Assembly Ruben Rubinyan.
During the event, a short film was shown, which presented the importance of establishing peace in Armenia and Azerbaijan, after which the Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan and the President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev were invited to the stage. The leaders of the two countries were presented with the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity 2026 by Cardinal José Tolentino de Mendonça and the Secretary General of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity, Mohamed Abdelsalam, in recognition of the establishment of peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan delivered a speech, in which, in particular, he noted:
''Distinguished collegues,
Secretary-General, Ladies and Gentlemen,
What’s going on here is unbelievable․ Leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia have come together to share the honorable Zayed Award for Human Fraternity in recognition of the peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
During the last almost 40 years you would never have seen the words peace, Armenia, Azerbaijan as a part of an ensemble. And even if these words would come together, it would rather mean something unbelievable. That’s why, what has happened in 2025 and is happening now is unbelievable.
But this ceremony is not only a celebration of the peace deal, it is also a confirmation by both Armenia and Azerbaijan that the page of the conflict is turned, otherwise it would be meaningless for the President of Azerbaijan or for me to come here and accept this honor.
This is also an act of support by the international community, because the decision was made by the Judging Committee with highly respectable member list from all around the world. And I would like to express my gratitude and appreciation to the Judging Committee. Your decision is definitely strengthening peace in our region and thank you for that.
Тhis award was established jointly by His Eminence the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar and His Holiness the Pope. This fact symbolizes the support of Muslim and Christian worlds for peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Unbelievable things happen when there is belief, devotion, vision and wisdom. I think the peace deal happened, because Armenia and Azerbaijan understood, that the conflict needs to be stopped now, otherwise it will never be stopped, bringing new and new sufferings to both countries and peoples.
But while this Zayed Award for Human Fraternity is being formally presented to the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan, it is, in truth, an achievement that belongs to our peoples. The leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan have taken bold steps but it is the willingness of our peoples to embrace a new future that truly makes the historic moment possible. This award, therefore, is as much for every Armenian and Azerbaijani who dared to hope for peace. And I would like to thank both of our peoples for understanding, that the past isn’t changeable and is beyond of our reach.
So we don’t have to concentrate on what we can’t change, we need to focus on creating a peaceful and prosperous future for our nations. It isn’t an easy path. Because there is big mistrust, pessimism, anger and even hate. During the conflict many have died, many grieving families are now following what is happening here. Some of them maybe would consider this event inappropriate. But the continuation of sufferings, isn’t a relief or respect for those who suffered, the continuation of killings isn’t a relief or respect for those who were killed and for their relatives.
Peace is the only relief for all, peace is the biggest respect for victims.
Excellencies, Ladies and Gentlemen․
On this remarkable occasion of receiving this honorary Zayed Award for Human Fraternity, I would like to express my deep gratitude to the President of the United States Donald Trump, whose personal engagement and devotion to the ideal of peace was the key factor for the peace deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and hopefully we will have the honor to be present at the ceremony awarding him the deserved Nobel Peace Prize.
Thank you.
And let me express my special gratitude and respect to His Highness, the President of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and the founding father of this beautiful and great country, the late and honorable Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan”.
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The Award is named in honour of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founder of the United Arab Emirates, and recognises individuals and organisations, regardless of their origin or location, who have worked selflessly and tirelessly to advance human fraternity and make significant progress towards peaceful coexistence.
Since its inception in 2019, the Award has recognised 16 laureates from 15 countries. The creation of the Award follows the historic meeting in Abu Dhabi between the late Pope Francis, the 266th head of the Roman Catholic Church, and the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, His Excellency Ahmed Al-Tayeb, during which they jointly signed the Document on Human Fraternity.
Past award recipients include Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ahmed Al-Tayeb (honorary recipient), The late Pope Francis, 266th head of the Catholic Church (honorary recipient); UN Secretary-General António Guterres; activist against extremism Latifa Ibn Ziaten; Their Majesties King Abdullah II bin Al Hussein and Queen Rania Al Abdullah of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan; Haitian organization the Foundation for Knowledge and Liberty; the Community of Sant’Egidio organization; Kenyan peacebuilder Shamsa Abubakar Fadhil; Indonesian charitable organizations Nahdlatul Ulama and Muhammadiyah; world-renowned cardiac surgeon Professor Sir Magdi Yacoub; Chilean NGO founder Sister Nelly Leon Correa; Prime Minister of Barbados the Honorable Mia Amor Mottley; food relief organisation World Central Kitchen; and youth health innovator Heman Bekele.
