Erdoğan hails Azerbaijan-Armenia peace steps as ‘extremely valuable’

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has lauded the progress made by Azerbaijan and Armenia in their pursuit of a permanent peace agreement, describing the steps taken as “extremely valuable.” The Turkish leader conveyed this message in a video address to the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity 2026 ceremony, where the two South Caucasus leaders were honored.

Support for Regional Peace and Stability

In his remarks, President Erdoğan congratulated Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on being recognized with this year’s award. He expressed hope that the awards would contribute to global peace and stability, particularly during the current challenging times. Erdoğan reaffirmed Türkiye’s principled support for all initiatives aimed at fostering peace, prosperity, and stability in the region and beyond.

Vision for a New Chapter in the Caucasus

Referencing the agreement reached between Baku and Yerevan last August, Erdoğan expressed confidence that its full implementation would open “a brand-new chapter in the future of the Caucasus.” He emphasized that Türkiye is committed to doing “whatever is necessary to ensure lasting peace in the Caucasus and to actively participate in building bridges of friendship based on fairness.” This stance underscores Ankara's role as a key regional actor invested in the normalization process.

Context of the Award and Türkiye's Regional Role

The Zayed Award for Human Fraternity is an international honor recognizing efforts to bridge divides and foster human connection. Türkiye, with deep historical and cultural ties to Azerbaijan and a recently normalized relationship with Armenia, positions itself as a supportive force for diplomatic reconciliation in the strategically vital Caucasus region, aiming to transform it into a zone of cooperation.