Accepting Zayed Award for Human Fraternity 2022

In the name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful,

Prayers and peace be upon our Prophet Mohammad,

It is my pleasure, as I receive with Rania the Zayed Award for Human Fraternity, to express my great appreciation for this recognition from our brethren in the United Arab Emirates, where this award was launched to instil the values of human fraternity and peace.

This award carries the name of a great man, who was dedicated to serving his homeland and the entire nation, and championed deep human values rooted in goodwill, mutual respect and compassion. He left a great legacy of achievements and progress, which lives on in his family and his people in this state that believes in peace and honourable human values.

These values, which we need today more than ever, are the solid foundation for building bridges, instead of walls, and for promoting mutual understanding and peace instead of conflicts.

Humanity united to confront the COVID pandemic to protect the right to life, regardless of ethnicities, religions, or differences. It is an experience we must draw lessons from, to invest in the potential of international solidarity and build a future that puts a stop to injustice and poverty—a future where occupation ends, refugees return to their homelands, hope is renewed among youths, and development flourishes in all fields, especially in our region, which has suffered from instability for decades.

I thank you again for this award—on behalf of myself, Rania, and all Jordanians—and I reiterate our commitment to continue exerting efforts to reach peace and stability in the region, and working diligently towards political solutions to regional crises, while maintaining our commitment to the values of dialogue and coexistence; for what unites humans is much more than what sets them apart.

Peace, God’s mercy and blessings be upon you.