Russian media airs President Ilham Aliyev’s interview on MGIMO Rector Anatoly Torkunov [VIDEO]
![Russian media airs President Ilham Aliyev’s interview on MGIMO Rector Anatoly Torkunov [VIDEO]](https://www.azernews.az/media/2020/04/08/ilham_aliyev_main_photo_200320_1.jpg)
Russia's Rossiya-24 and Rossiya-1 TV channels have aired an interview with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev on the occasion of the 70th birth anniversary of Anatoly Torkunov, the rector of Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO), of which Ilham Aliyev is a graduate.
Apart from Ilham Aliyev’s interview, Russia's Rossiya-24 and Rossiya-1 TV channels’ programs have also featured interviews with other heads of state, public and political figures, diplomats and other graduates of Moscow State Institute of International Relations about the rector of the prestigious educational institution.
"He [Anatoly Torkunov] led MGIMO in one of the most difficult periods in the life of our university, after the so-called perestroika. It was under his leadership that MGIMO quickly restored its authority and became one of the world's leading universities. I know that Anatoly Vasilyevich has invested a lot of effort, health and attention into making us all feel proud to be MGIMO graduates. In my opinion, every graduate of MGIMO should be grateful to Anatoly Vasilyevich for what he has done for our university and what he is still doing today,” Aliyev said.
“When we held the First Alumni Forum, I noted that it was probably natural that the forum was being held in Azerbaijan. This was the case due to the alphabetical order of both our country's name and my own last name. However, I also said that this is probably due to the fact that I am still the only MGIMO graduate to be president and hope to see more such people. I am glad that this is already happening. We are already two. I am sure this is only a beginning. There will be many of us. I am sure that the graduates of our alma mater, as they say, the students of Anatoly Vasilyevich, will take a worthy place in the life of our countries, because MGIMO unites practically the entire world. I am sure that more MGIMO graduates will become presidents in the future. I sincerely congratulate Anatoly Vasilyevich again and wish him all the best,” the president went on saying.
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