President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received on January 9 the Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders, Mohamed Abdelsalam, and members of the jury for the "Zayed Award for Human Fraternity" – former President of the Council of the European Union Charles Michel and former Chairperson of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki.
AZERTAC presents the material prepared from that meeting.
The guests, stating that they always visit Azerbaijan with pleasure, expressed their gratitude to President Ilham Aliyev for the reception. They announced that President Ilham Aliyev will be presented with the "Zayed Award for Human Fraternity" for 2026 for his efforts in achieving peace between Azerbaijan and Armenia, and that the official award ceremony will be held on February 4 in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. They emphasized that they felt honored to present President Ilham Aliyev with an invitation letter to attend the event as a distinguished guest.
It was noted that the "Zayed Award for Human Fraternity" was established based on a document signed by the Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, Ahmed Mohamed Ahmed El-Tayeb, and the late Pope Francis, and it promotes the humanitarian legacy and values of the founder of the United Arab Emirates, former President Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. The awarding of the Head of State to this prize was also assessed as a reflection of the appreciation given by the Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders, the Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, Ahmed Mohamed Ahmed El-Tayeb, Pope XIV Leo, and the jury to the activities of the President of Azerbaijan towards establishing peace.
It was stated that after reviewing all peace models worldwide last year, the jury members of the "Zayed Award for Human Fraternity" decided that the model of the peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia is an excellent example for application in other conflict and war-torn regions.
Mohamed Abdelsalam, Secretary-General of the Muslim Council of Elders: On behalf of the jury, I would like to say that your work towards achieving success in the peace agreement inspires all of us and serves as a magnificent example of peace for conflict zones around the world.
We and the whole world highly value this in terms of its values, because the world truly needs it. The presentation of this award to you demonstrates the significance of the agreement in terms of establishing peace, reconciliation, and regional stability. Mr. President, we express our sincere gratitude to you.
Charles Michel, member of the jury of the "Zayed Award for Human Fraternity," former President of the Council of the European Union: I believe that the peace agreement you have implemented jointly with Armenia is a very strong signal to the countries of the world. That is, despite difficulties, past and present suffering, there is a common will to look towards the future with optimism and hope, even if it is small. This is also linked to the values that we want to promote and defend. Because we believe that these values should be promoted more in the future. I would like to reiterate once again, we appreciate your leadership and this peace agreement. With our decision regarding the award, we want to demonstrate our support for all your efforts to turn this peace agreement into reality and wish for positive hopes and prospects for the region and the South Caucasus, as well as the wider region.
Moussa Faki, member of the jury of the "Zayed Award for Human Fraternity," former Chairperson of the African Union Commission: I think that peace and stability are very necessary. In my opinion, your vision and leadership qualities are highly valued. As a member of the jury, I want to congratulate you and thank you for agreeing to participate in our meeting and for showing the whole world and the peoples of the region what peace and courage are. As you mentioned, until recently, murder and bloodshed were observed. But now you have shown the courage to move forward and establish peace and stability. Your Excellency, congratulations.
x x x
The Head of State, expressing his gratitude to the jury for their kind words and invitation, as well as for the high appreciation of Azerbaijan's efforts to establish peace in the region, emphasized that he gladly accepted the invitation.
Touching upon the importance of peace for regional stability and prosperity, President Ilham Aliyev said that despite the hardships and sacrifices our people faced during the occupation, Azerbaijan has demonstrated strong political will to establish lasting peace. President Ilham Aliyev noted that the peace agreement was prepared and presented to Armenia by the Azerbaijani side and that efforts in this direction will continue.
President Ilham Aliyev: "As you rightly noted, peace will bring stability and prosperity to the entire region. If we look at the recent past, we will see that our issue is somewhat unique. By recent past, I mean the last decade. The path from the last bloody battles to peace took two years. Despite the hardships and sacrifices, we demonstrated strong political will to establish peace once and for all, and we are already seeing its results."
The Head of State noted that we have been living in peace for only five years and emphasized that in recent months, peace has moved to a practical level, including in the trade sector. In this regard, the President of Azerbaijan noted the historical significance of the agreements reached regarding the peace agenda at the Washington meeting on August 8, 2025, and highly appreciated the efforts of US President Donald Trump in this matter.
President Ilham Aliyev: "We are getting used to living in peace. Believe me, it is a pleasant feeling. You feel that there is no more war, no more additional sacrifices, no more bloodshed. You can do more for the people, the country, and for development, prosperity, and stability. I still think that the agreement reached between Azerbaijan and Armenia, and the appreciation given by such a distinguished group of individuals, truly shows that you need strong political will to achieve peace. You must desire it from the bottom of your heart. You must do it in practice, not just in words. When such efforts are appreciated, you become even more motivated and send a message of peace to other places on the global map where people are still dying in war."
Speaking about the "Zayed Award for Human Fraternity," the Head of State stated that the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan is greatly admired worldwide. President Ilham Aliyev also noted his fraternal relations with his successor, the President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. In this regard, the Head of State said that being awarded this prize is a double honor for him. President Ilham Aliyev asked to convey his gratitude to the Chairman of the Muslim Council of Elders, the Sheikh of Al-Azhar Al-Sharif, and the Pope for their support of the achievements regarding the peace agenda in the region and for their appreciation of his work.
During the conversation, an exchange of views took place on issues of mutual interest.