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Turkey's prime minister was presented on Monday with an award due to his remarkable efforts to launch the Alliance of Civilizations initiative.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan received Seville NODO Foundation's award from Seville's Mayor Alfredo Sanchez Menteseirin during a ceremony held in Seville, Spain.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mayor Menteseirin said Erdogan had taken important steps aiming at development of mutual dialogue between nations and solution of international and regional matters.

Erdogan said in his part that he was not hopeless about the future of the world.

Pointing to Turkey and Spain's call for peace, compromise and dialogue, Erdogan said, "Turkey, which has a significant role in its region, believes that the optimistic and promising atmosphere that will be formed with the spread of peace and prosperity will embrace all the world".

Commenting on Cyprus issue during his speech, Erdogan said the Turkish Cypriot party desired to reach a comprehensive solution based on political equality as soon as possible.

"Turkey works for a fair and lasting solution," he said.

Erdogan also said that Turkey had taken important steps aiming at the normalization of its relations with Armenia, adding it would continue to display efforts to improve the process.

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