HE HAS ALWAYS BEEN A LEADER
- Today I bear the warmest memories about Ilham Aliyev. When he was entering our faculty, MSIFR was a very prestigious university. It means that all high ranked parents were seeking that their children entered that institute, as the diploma of that university gave an access to big life, and first of all, a guaranteed trip abroad.
However, though Ilham Aliyev’s father was on a very important position, his entering and education in our institute was regular, from the point of view that he was very modest, tried not to be notable. There was not a single word said that he was son of that very Aliyev. He showed himself as a diligent and serious young man. He was very responsible about studies during those five years. That is why, when we considered the issue of working on probation abroad for our students, Ilham got this opportunity.
He himself gained this right, by his work, his attitude towards studies. Tutors agreed to send him to London, as he was specializing on Great Britain, his English was excellent. By the way, when I was taking part in Olympic Games in Sydney three years ago, I was invited to a reception organized by the Olympic Committee of Azerbaijan and I heard Ilham’s speech. He was speaking excellent English, good pronunciation, without any interpreters.
I was proud of the fact that he was our graduate, a man taking this important position. He was speaking freely, good manners, responded to the questions, not looking into a sheet of paper that he had before his eyes.
After completion of work on probation, he defended successfully the results of his practice and graduated from the university. In fact, he had good opportunities, from the point of view of employment, carried out by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
However, he decided to continue education and entered post-graduate course of the university. There, Ilham showed himself not only as a talented student but as a very serious young tutor, as during three years of post graduate studies, like every post graduate student (chair of history and foreign policy of European and American countries) had a chance to conduct practice, seminars and lectures.
I would like to point out that despite of the fact that difference in age between young post graduate student, young tutor and senior students was not big, nevertheless, discipline and attention and the most important - interest in subject taught by Ilham showed that he was a ready tutor, not only getting knowledge but able to share this knowledge with others.
After graduation from post-graduate studies in September of 1985, he defended his candidate of historical sciences thesis in our university. It was really a scientific procedure, but not only formality. He defended his conception, his vision of the topic and I was fascinated.
I met Ilham later, when he was first secretary of party committee. Ilham, attracted by work with people, chose neither scientific not diplomatic carrier, he took party activity and worked as instructor of district party committee for a few years.
I think that dispositions of leader, which he had for sure from birth, were developing there, he was communicating not only with students, he was responsible for party organization of the faculty of international relationships, including professors, war veterans, etc. He was very good at working with masses of people and the main thing, while communicating with him, everyone saw a principle man, but not only son of Heydar Aliyev.
Today, when we follow political growth of Ilham, I think, it is quite natural. It is natural that he is dealing with big politics. Anyway, he has accumulated big experience of work with people, good education, foreign languages, which give him an opportunity to reveal brighter his talent, his skills.
I am sure that by his practical activities, care about his country and people, he will contribute a lot into development of independent democratic Azerbaijan. We will be proud of him.
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