President Tokayev congratulates Aliyev and Pashinyan on receiving Zayed Award for Human Fraternity
In his video address, which was shown during the ceremony held in Abu Dhabi, the Head of State congratulated President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan on being awarded the Sheikh Zayed Prize for Human Fraternity.
The President of Kazakhstan noted that this award serves as recognition of their wise leadership.
“The progress achieved by Azerbaijan and Armenia on the path to a peace agreement marks a turning point in history. This step demonstrates that even long-standing conflicts can be resolved through dialogue, responsibility and restraint. In an era of mounting confrontation and deepening dividing lines, this experience shows that reconciliation is not a sign of weakness, but evidence of strength,” Kassym-Jomart Tokayev said.
Tokayev stressed that Kazakhstan highly values the trust placed in our country, including the decision to hold one of the key stages of peace talks between Azerbaijan and Armenia in Almaty.
“This fact reflects our shared conviction that there is no alternative to constructive dialogue as a tool for sustainable development. Kazakhstan consistently supports initiatives aimed at strengthening peace, trust and cooperation across the Eurasian space and beyond,” he stated.
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev highlighted the special role of the award in promoting the ideas of peace and expressed gratitude to UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for his unwavering commitment to advancing these values.
“In this award, the enduring legacy of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan has found its embodiment – a legacy based on the ideals of tolerance, mutual respect and peaceful coexistence. These principles are tangibly reflected in concrete political outcomes. The establishment of peace and cooperation between Azerbaijan and Armenia has given this legacy new substance and demonstrated its relevance far beyond the region, while also strengthening faith in diplomacy as an effective instrument of international relations,” Kassym-Jomart Tokayev emphasized.
In the opinion of the President of Kazakhstan, the firm commitment of the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia to achieving peace has given hope to millions of people and sent a clear signal to the international community that good-neighbourly relations and stability are unconditional priorities on the global agenda.
Background: The Sheikh Zayed Award for Human Fraternity is an independent international prize established in 2019 to recognize significant contributions to the promotion of peace, mutual understanding, solidarity and coexistence between peoples and cultures.
In different years, the laureates of this award have included Pope Francis, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Latifa Ibn Ziaten, founder of the IMAD association and anti-extremism activist, King Abdullah II of Jordan, Queen Rania and others.