Baku: The historic peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia was achieved at a time when the world lacks peace-oriented and enlightened leaders, said President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Jos© Ramos-Horta at the opening ceremony of the 13th Global Baku Forum.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, President Ramos-Horta expressed gratitude towards President Ilham Aliyev and the Nizami Ganjavi International Center for the invitation to Baku. He congratulated President Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan for receiving the 2026 Zayed Award for Human Fraternity. He emphasized the significance of the peace agreement between Azerbaijan and Armenia, noting the scarcity of leaders focused on peace and enlightenment in the current global landscape.

President Ramos-Horta also addressed the occurrence of preventable wars, specifically highlighting the conflict with Iran as a classic example that could have been avoided. He stressed that despite having a system of clear rules and institutions for 80 years, the world is heading toward a dangerous path. He pointed out that laws and rules are often applied only to small and weak countries, calling for the non-selective application of international law. He cautioned Western leaders that the ongoing violations of justice and trust could lead to a universal loss if not addressed.