Ilham Aliyev never used his father's status at MGIMO... President's coursemate in touch with Caliber.Az

On December 24, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev marked his birthday. The President turned 61 years old. In this regard Caliber.Az editors contacted MGIMO alumnus, doctor of political sciences, and professor Vladimir Vladimirovich Shtol, who congratulated his coursemate on this momentous day and shared with us his memories.

"Dear Ilham Heydarovich! Let me congratulate you on your birthday, your holiday. First of all, I wish you, your spouse, children, and grandchildren sound health and success in all endeavors. This year marks the 40th anniversary of our graduation from MGIMO. Every year we get together with those of our coursemates who are now in Moscow and remember the years we lived together, the years of our youth. Of course, we always remember Ilham Aliyev, although he is absent for obvious reasons from most of our celebrations. We remember with particular warmth the First World Forum of MGIMO Graduates, which was held in Baku in 2013 on Ilham Aliyev's initiative. Next year it will be 10 years already - every year MGIMO alumni gather together in different countries of the world, and share their memories and impressions. Ilham Aliyev stands at the root of this initiative.

The next year will be significant for you, Ilham - it will be 20 years since you were elected president of Azerbaijan and succeeded your father who can be rightly called a great statesman. And I would like to wish you, at a time of not only human but also political maturity, the greatest and most important achievements in your state activity for the benefit of our two countries – Azerbaijan and Russia. Once again I wish you health and success in all your endeavours," said Shtol.

In a conversation with Caliber.Az, Vladimir Shtol stressed that during his years at MGIMO Ilham Aliyev never boasted of being the son of the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Azerbaijan.

"Despite the fact that I am 5 years older than Ilham Heydarovich, nevertheless, this age difference was not felt during our years at MGIMO. In general, we had a fairly wide range of ages at the Institute. Ilham Aliyev was probably the youngest in the course. We entered the institute in 1977, he was actually 16 years old, and I was already after serving in the army. But there were guys who were a few years older than me. So there were different ages. However, it should be noted that despite our age, social status, and nationality, we were all one friendly family of Soviet kids who differed little in everyday life and communication. The question of parental status was never raised," he said.

He also recalled that the last time he visited Azerbaijan was in the summer of 2017.

"I was on holiday at a resort in Naftalan, where I took healing baths," Shtol concluded.