25 January 2020
January 24th-25th, a MGIMO delegation led by its Rector A. Torkunov went to Baku to attend several important events.
The Rector participated in the conference «Moscow-Baku: Dialogue of Cultures», organized by the Azerbaijani Ministry of Culture and the news agency TASS. The conference counted a number of round tables and discussions, which had for discussants MGIMO professors, members of the Supervisory Board and Board of Trustees of the University, famous graduates such as the Rector, the Trade Representative of Azerbaijan in Russia also the Head of the Department of Integrated International Ecological Problems and Wildlife Management R.Aliev, the Deputy Dean of the School of International Journalism Y.Kobaladze, the Vice-Rector A.Malgin, and members of the Supervisory Board, the Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council I.Umakhanov and the Advisor to the Mayor of Moscow on Social Development L.Pechatnikov, and members of the Board of Trustees, the Aide to the President of Russia V.Medinsky, the Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on Foreign Affairs K.Kosachev, the Member of the Federation Council Committee on Agricultural Food Policy and Environmental Management B.Khamchiev, MGIMO graduates the General Director of TASS S.Mikhailov and the Head of Rossotrudnichestvo E.Mitrofanova.
The Prime Minister of Azerbaijan A.Asadov received Anatoly Torkunov and other participants of the conference. The Rector described to the Prime Minister MGIMO’s collaboration plans with ADA University, which include a joint MBA in «Finance». The meeting was attended on the Azerbaijani side by the Minister of Culture A.Garayev, the Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Russia P.Bulbuloglu and the Mayor of Baku E.Azizov.
On the evening of January 24th, the Rector attended an informal meeting devoted to the 70th anniversary of the First Deputy General Director of TASS M.Gusman. The event brought together representatives of the media and governments of Azerbaijan and Russia. The Head of the Department of Foreign Economic Activity and International Relations of Moscow City Government, S.Cheryomin, the Head of the Department of Culture of Moscow A.Kibovsky both congratulated M.Gusman on the anniversary and A.Torkunov awarded M.Gusman the MGIMO Order of Merit.
On Saturday, MGIMO Rector visited ADA University, where its Rector H.Pashaev took him on a tour of the new parts of the campus and university building. Following the project of H.Pashaev, the University created a unique campus using energy-saving technologies, with a huge recreational area, including a large park with ponds that feed from underground sources.
A. Torkunov gave a talk to students of ADA University on new trends in international relations and took questions from the audience. ADA University hosted a meeting on new directions for bilateral cooperation, which was attended by the Ambassador of Russia to Azerbaijan M.Bocharnikov, the Deputy Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan, MGIMO graduate R.Hasanov, MGIMO’s Vice-Rector A.Malgin, the Vice-Rector of ADA University F.Ismailzade, the Trade Representative of Azerbaijan in Russia, the Head of the Department of Integrated International Ecological Problems and Wildlife Management R.Aliev. In addition to the joint program, which will be launched in March of this year, a visiting MBA module headed by R.Aliev will be held at ADA University.
On Saturday, the Aide to the President of Russia V.Medinsky, the Head of the Department of Culture of Moscow A.Kibovsky and MGIMO Rector A.Torkunov were received by Sheikh A.Pashazadeh. The sides discussed the expansion of humanitarian ties and interregional collaboration.
In the afternoon, a working meeting was held with the participation of the famous Azerbaijani statesman, who launched the country’s modern oil and gas complex, V.Aleskerov, and who was recently appointed Head of the free economic zone in Alat. The Aide to the President, Head of Military Affairs of the Department of the Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan M.Aliyev, the Deputy Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan R.Hasanov, MGIMO Rector A.Torkunov, the Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council I.Umakhanov, the representative of the Federation Council Committee on Agricultural Food Policy and Environmental Management B.Khamchiev, the Chair of the Federation Council Committee on International Affairs K.Kosachev, the Trade Representative of Azerbaijan in Russia R.Aliev, the President of the Kurchatov Institute M.Kovalchuk, the Vice-Rector of MGIMO A.Malgin all attended the meeting which was devoted to discussing questions of economic interaction and cooperation with the Russian regions Dagestan and Ingushetia.
MGIMO extends its thanks to the Alumni Association in Azerbaijan and Ateshgah insurance company for their assistance in organizing the trip to Baku.
— See the MGIMO web-site for russian version
