I did not even want to ask him who are then Gorbachev and Pavlov of this work. I just said:
Probably my role in this corresponds to that of Yavlinsky. 42
Exactly, you are absolutely right. You have given the ideas, you are looking for ways of realizing them, but you are by no means first in administering them, although you have been given a sufficiently responsible position.
This statement did not satisfy or flatter me but I was quite excited by the strange game of comparisons we were playing:
- May be one of the reasons of perestroyka not becoming a success is that people like Yavlinsky, who prepared the programs on economic reforms, were kept as far away as possible from administering them? Believe me, I am not power mad and I am far from a careerist. But with your blessing we have started a very good work and my only aim is to take this work further. I am convinced that we are at the beginning of a very interesting, meaningful and different road.
After we said all we wanted to say to each other Hasanov invited Rahim muallim in and said that his recommendation would be that the university should begin its activity with the preparatory courses. He said it would be sufficient to agree this at the INEM Council meeting and pass appropriate resolution without referring the matter to the Ministry of Education.
So that is how the problem was solved. Even when it seemed that all possible routes to go forward were closed in front of us, we found a narrow alley to follow. I did not feel triumphant nor did I feel defeated. Whatever happens, "we were standing on our both feet again".