Abu dhabi: The awarding ceremony of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity took place in Abu Dhabi, where President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan was honored with the prestigious award. The event, held in the United Arab Emirates’ capital, featured the playing of the national anthem of the UAE and a video presentation dedicated to the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, President Ilham Aliyev was among the distinguished guests at the ceremony, which included congratulatory messages by various international leaders. Mohamed Abdelsalam, Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders, delivered an address to the attendees, highlighting the significance of the award.
Congratulatory video messages were presented by leaders such as President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Trkiye, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan, and King Abdullah II of Jordan, among others. These messages underscored the importance of the peace efforts recognized by the award, particularly between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
During his speech, President Ilham Aliyev emphasized the historic nature of the peace agreement with Armenia and expressed gratitude to international supporters, including U.S. President Donald Trump, for facilitating the peace process. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan also delivered remarks, noting the symbolic significance of receiving the award alongside President Aliyev and reaffirming the commitment to peace.
The ceremony also honored other laureates, including Afghan women’s rights activist Zarqa Yaftali and the Palestinian organization Taawon, represented by Nabil Qaddumi. The event concluded with the presentation of the awards by the President of the UAE, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and a group photo session.