President Ilham Aliyev has addressed the participants of the presentation ceremony for the "Guernica Prize for Peace and Reconciliation," Operative Information Center-OMM reports. The head of state expressed his deep gratitude to the City Councils of Guernica-Lumo and Pforzheim, the Guernica Peace Museum, and the "Gernika Gogoratuz" Peace Research Center for honoring his efforts in achieving peace and promoting dialogue between Azerbaijan and Armenia.
In his message, President Ilham Aliyev emphasized the symbolic importance of the award being presented on April 26, the anniversary of the Guernica tragedy. He noted that the long-standing conflict in the region has concluded following the historic summit held in Washington in August 2025, facilitated by the administration of US President Donald Trump. During this summit, the text of a peace treaty between Azerbaijan and Armenia was initialed and a Joint Declaration was signed. "This marked the complete end of the conflict that lasted for three decades, laying the foundation for a period of peace, reconciliation, and mutual partnership for our peoples," the President stated, adding that Azerbaijan is now focusing its resources on a sustainable development agenda.
The President further highlighted the practical economic benefits of the peace process, noting that Azerbaijan has already begun exporting oil products and transit grain to Armenia. These confidence-building measures, alongside regular meetings between civil society representatives, play a crucial role in establishing lasting stability. The Guernica Prize, which commemorates the victims of the 1937 bombing during the Spanish Civil War, serves as a global recognition of efforts to transform historical grievances into a future of cooperation. By honoring the memory of those lost in past tragedies, the award underscores the importance of political will in resolving complex international disputes.
