Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan met with Mohamed Abdelsalam, Secretary General of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity, and award committee members, including former President of the European Council and former Prime Minister of Belgium Charles Michel, and former Chairperson of the African Union Commission and former Prime Minister of Chad Moussa Faki Mahamat.

Pashinyan thanked the award committee for their recognition and said it was a great honor to receive the Zayed Award.

“Of course, this is the result of work done by many people in Armenia and abroad. I know that the President of Azerbaijan has also been awarded and that we share this prize. That is justified. It is truly a joint achievement. Many people worked — and are still working — for peace: in the U.S., in the EU, in various international platforms, in Azerbaijan. And above all, this is the achievement of our political team, the government, the parliament, and our society. No agreement could be implemented without the support of the public,” Pashinyan stated, adding that the people of Armenia played the most crucial role.

Mohamed Abdelsalam said Prime Minister Pashinyan was awarded the 2026 Zayed Prize for Human Fraternity in recognition of Armenia and Azerbaijan’s peace process, cooperation efforts, and consistent progress toward regional stability. He noted that Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev also received the award, emphasizing the two leaders’ joint peace efforts.

Abdelsalam also stated that Pashinyan’s actions could serve as a model for resolving other global conflicts.

“This recognition highlights the significance of the agreement as a positive step toward peace, reconciliation, and regional stability. The Zayed Award honors this initiative to encourage and inspire global leaders to pursue lasting peace. We are confident that your work comes from the heart, for the sake of peace, your people, and the world,” said Abdelsalam, adding that this year’s nominees included 350 individuals from over 90 countries.

During the meeting, Pashinyan received an invitation to attend the official award ceremony scheduled for February 4, 2026, in Abu Dhabi.

The Zayed Award for Human Fraternity is named after the late founding father of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. It honors individuals or organizations, regardless of nationality, culture, or geography, who make significant contributions to human fraternity and peaceful coexistence.

The award was established in 2019 following a historic meeting in Abu Dhabi between the late Pope Francis and Grand Imam of Al-Azhar Ahmed Al-Tayeb, during which they signed the Document on Human Fraternity.