“Woman on her death foot called me to Voronezh”<br /> Umud Rahimoghlu: “I have a few presidential friends”<br /> We had a conversation in the upcoming New Year with deputy chairman of Azerbaijan Press Council and at the same time the IEPF chairman, Umud Rahimoghlu. It wasn’t just occasional. We have heard a lot from time to time about this person. For instance, he made a car gift to one journalist, he organizes trips of foreign journalists to our country showing them Karabakh and acquaints them with roots of this problem, he has a second mother in Voronezh, he has a few president friends, etc. We talked to him about outcomes of 2008, press conditions and other issues.
– What tracks have 2008 left in your mind?
In my private life the happiest moment was that my son finished high school and entered to the university in the United Stated of America. And in terms of social life some heartwarming activities on improving Civil Society that have been made. These activities showed itself in establishing Ngo Council and signing the conception of “Governmental support to mass media in Azerbaijan Republic”. Moreover, I was elected a deputy chairman of Azerbaijan Press Council in congress. I stepped into a big responsibility.
– How do you manage?
Generally, to start a job is completing half of the job. The main thing is to start a job without hesitation. We have done a lot on this direction. However, problems are also inevitable. There are a lot of problems remaining. We have some projects which have not been implemented yet. Despite all these facts, I think we will achieve purposed issues.
– Some say that you are in a good relationship with journalists. Do you consider yourself their friend?
I have worked in journalism for a long time. Currently, I am a chairman of an organization, of which it’s the main work is media. I do not consider myself as the friend of journalists, but the member of the family. A Friend is away from family. Some people from media are aware of our journalistic experience. I had lead department in the magazine which had been published with high copies, “Literature and Art”. I have been active in journalism well enough. I have organized trip of more than 100 foreign journalists to our country. Even their meeting with soldiers in trenches. Furthermore, we arranged a trip of foreign students studying in Azerbaijan to regions. Only students with excellent writing skills participated in this project. There was important for us to get an essay of foreign youths about what they have heard and seen. They acquainted with life conditions of IDPs, got a conversation with witnesses of Khojaly tragedy, and with disabled citizens as well. They have already started to prepare their essays. We are constantly being informed about it. For me, this is the biggest contribution to Azerbaijani journalism. Nowadays we observe in our newspapers undesirable cases, such as mutual accusations and insults. Other bigger problems exist, however. I also do not feel Zerdabi’s enlightenment.
– As we heard, you gave a car present to one journalist…
At the beginning of 1990s I invited my foreign friends-journalists to Azerbaijan who were concerned with our country’s situation. I always met them with my own car and placed them in my own house and my relative’s homes. We also supplied them with materials concerning Karabakh. One of those journalists was Tatyana Chaladze. Today she lives in Azerbaijan. She has done enough for Azerbaijan. We decided to prepare a book named “Genocide of the century” with her. Because of these works I had to give my “Zhiguli” car to her. She constantly had to change the right of permit of the car. I had another car. So I gave this car up for her usage. I want to say that, this present was not the part of any foundation, but a personal gesture. This is not some kind of great job for me. I am always ready to help person working for our country.
– You have good poems. How long have you been writing?
Since childhood. The first poems of mine were published in Fuzuly in the magazine, “Araz” during my high school education. My poems have constantly been published in periodical press. War and strained work in my organization, created obstacles for my creative works. I have dived into number of themes; love, patriotism, philosophy and etc. Poetry depends on inspiration.
– You have a president – friend. If we are not mistaken this person is the president of Udmurtiya.
Yes. I have a lot of friends living overseas. They are persons working on different activities. These friendships were made by chances. Each person should never forget death and therefore should help others. This is my life principle. Maybe surrounded by influential people opens this kind of philosophy in my mind. Not only one, I have a few presidential friends, and I wouldn’t like to speak about it. My classmates and colleague friends are also valuable to me. Being friend of the presidents doesn’t mean to forget others.
– While preparing to this interview we’ve got interesting information. You have a second mother in Voronezh.
That is true. I met Anna Ivanovna in the train. She was an old woman. Her deck in the train was the upper, while mine was lower. It is difficult for an old lady to lift to upper deck. So I offered her my deck. She invited me to her house when we arrived in Voronej. That is how the relationship commenced. Only then I knew that his son is a High Official in Yeltsin’s administration. In her death foot she declared that she wants to see me. I went to Voronezh immediately. I came only on her last breath. Today we are in good relations with her family. That woman is like my second mother. We are being in touch very often. She couldn’t get an opportunity to come to Azerbaijan, but her grandson could. No matter a person’s nationality, race, origin, the main thing is we are all humans. Therefore you can be in good relations with whoever you want.
– You talked about your colleagues. If I am not mistaken your military service was in Mongolia.
Exactly. We served 2 years in tents. But our destiny was to come back to our motherland. – How are your works in the NGO you lead? Our organization is one of the first NGO organizations established in Azerbaijan. Presently with more than 100 people working there. I think all of them are satisfy with their job. The paramount objective in our organization is to humanity. Nowadays we carry out projects in three directions. We also have a lot to do for the next year. As a propitious moment I would like to congratulate all lent.az’s personnel for the upcoming New Year and wish you all the best. I talked about different problems regarding Azerbaijan. However, situation cannot be differing, having a big problem such a Karabakh. I deeply want this problem to be solved in the coming year.