Nikol Pashinyan: Armenia, Azerbaijan have turned the page of conflict

ArmInfo. The 2026 Zayed Award for Human Fraternity ceremony has commenced in Abu Dhabi.  Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev are in attendance, having met earlier today.

Addressing the ceremony participants, Azerbaijani President Ilham  Aliyev noted that since the Washington summit on August 8 last year,  Azerbaijan and Armenia are moving towards establishing permanent  peace.  In this regard, he expressed special gratitude to US  President Donald Trump for facilitating the establishment of peace  between the two countries. Following the trilateral meeting in the US  capital, a peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia was  initialed. A joint statement was also signed, with Trump as a  witness, thus ending the bloody conflict between the two countries  that had lasted over 30 years.,Aliyev continued. 

"Over these months, we have contributed to the development of our  relations. We have not only lifted restrictions related to  transportation and cargo shipments from the territory of Azerbaijan  to Armenia, but also expanded cooperation in other areas. This  morning, I met with my Armenian counterpart, and we both noted that  the decision of the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity Committee is  very binding. I believe our example should become a roadmap for other  countries facing conflict,"  Ilham Aliyev said.

I his remarks, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan declared that  the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan has been closed He noted  that over the past 40 years, the words "peace," "Armenia," and  "Azerbaijan" were rarely mentioned together, and if they were, it was  considered something extraordinary. 

"Therefore, what happened in 2025 and what is happening now is truly  incredible. This ceremony is being held not only to celebrate the  peace agreement but also to record the fact that the page of the  conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan has been closed. Otherwise,  it would be pointless for the two sides to come together and accept  such a high assessment," Pashinyan said, adding that the event is  also a manifestation of the international community's support.

The Armenian leader expressed gratitude to the peoples of both  countries for understanding that the past needed to be changed and  for recognizing the need for peace. Now, according to Pashinyan, it  is necessary to focus on creating a peaceful future. "The agreement  to begin the peace process was signed because Armenia and Azerbaijan  realized that the conflict must end now or never. This path is not  easy, because the families of the many victims of the conflict,  seeing what is happening, may find it inappropriate. But continuing  suffering is not relief or respect. The greatest tribute and the only  consolation is peace," Nikol Pashinyan added.