Azer Allahveranov, a member of the Milli Majlis and chairman of the Eurasian Platform of Migration Initiatives public organization, is the guest of Global Art Magazine.
In an exclusive interview with our magazine, Azer Allahveranov discussed the role of international law and education in the development of national science and spiritual values, the new challenges of the artificial intelligence era, and how creativity helps people maintain inner harmony and inspiration and makes society more humane.
Azer Allahveranov and Jamala Nakhchivani, Editor-in-Chief of Global Art magazine.
– Hello, dear Azer muallim! Welcome to Global Art Magazine! How do you think the integration of international law and education contributes to the development of Azerbaijani science and the strengthening of the spiritual values of our society?
– Hello! Thank you for the invitation.
The world is changing rapidly today. We live in an era of large-scale technological transformations, where digitalization and artificial intelligence are becoming an integral part of everyday life. This certainly opens up enormous opportunities for humanity, but it also brings certain challenges. Why? Because artificial intelligence, a powerful tool of information technology, is capable of not only creating but also destroying.
This tool can realize many useful ideas, but it can also spread negative phenomena. We live in a time when information warfare and hybrid threats are becoming a new reality, and it is in this environment that artificial intelligence can create threats that even affect society's moral and spiritual values.
For example, we often see satirical videos created using neural networks spreading on social media. At first glance, they appear harmless, but upon closer examination of their subtext, it becomes clear that such content sometimes distorts or weakens traditional family values, thereby causing serious damage to the entire value system. Under the guise of humor and irony, models of family behavior and relationships alien to our culture are introduced, gradually leading to the erosion of moral compass.
And herein lies an important question: what legal and ethical mechanisms exist to at least partially stem this flow of negative influence? International law certainly regulates many areas, but the moral and ethical aspect requires a more nuanced approach. After all, this is not simply a matter of legal restrictions, but of preserving society's spiritual immunity, which can stem the flow of pernicious influence.
On the other hand, international law also plays a positive role when it comes to the development of science and education. It creates a legal framework that facilitates the internationalization of national scientific achievements. After all, it's one thing to achieve results at the scientific level, and quite another to implement them in practice and integrate them into the global scientific and practical space. And here, international cooperation, exchange of experience, and academic mobility become key factors for success.
If we look at developed countries—for example, Japan, the United States, or China—we see that a significant portion of the state budget is allocated specifically to science and education. This is a strategic investment in the future. We, relying on our own capabilities, should also actively utilize external instruments that will facilitate the development of domestic science. In this regard, international law can truly play both a regulatory and a determining role.
– Azer muallim, you are known not only as a member of parliament and a public figure, but also as a creative person with a rich inner world, as a poet. Please tell us about your creative self.
– I started writing poetry around 2010–2011, when I was about thirty-eight or thirty-nine years old. At first, it was short lines in both Azerbaijani and Russian, then entire series of poems. Sometimes I would write ten to fifteen poems a month. Some of my poems even inspired composers, and there were attempts to set them to music. And once, artificial intelligence created a melody based on two of my poems, subsequently reproducing them as songs. The result was unexpectedly successful: both the music and the performance.
I never set myself the goal of becoming a professional poet. It was rather the manifestation of a spiritual impulse, an inner need. Inspiration came naturally. Sometimes I'd return to the poems I'd written, edit the words, and refine the rhymes. Some of the texts were published in magazines and on websites, and others found them on social media and posted them under my name. But for me, this was never a form of self-affirmation. It was a conversation with myself, a kind of spiritual therapy.
Perhaps this stems from deep within my family: there were many poets in my maternal line. My great-grandmother's mother is the granddaughter of Molla Veli Vidadi (editor's note: a brilliant figure in classical Azerbaijani poetry). Perhaps this genetic memory manifested itself in me, too. In a year and a half, I wrote over one hundred and fifty poems. I probably had enough material for two books. I even considered publishing them, but life took other turns: difficult times came, a job change, concerns about family, and preparing my children for university. All of this pushed creativity into the background.
But inspiration is a delicate thing. It doesn't go away forever. Sometimes I think: perhaps one day the moment will come again when I begin writing poetry, and a new, more mature, philosophical flow of poetry will be born. After all, writing at thirty-eight and writing after fifty are completely different levels of perception of life. That's why I never say "never." Time will tell.
— Do you think your creativity has helped you in your social work? How important do you think it is to cultivate creativity and the ability to create?
— I believe that if a person has an innate predisposition to creativity, they should definitely cultivate it. Creatively developed people, it seems to me, are distinguished by greater humanity, humaneness, and empathy. They sense the world more sensitively.
Sometimes a person has wonderful talents: a voice, an ear for music, a creative mind, but without a systematic approach, these qualities can remain undiscovered. A talented person, be they a musician or an artist, can fully develop their gift only through hard work and determination. After all, inspiration alone is not enough. One must constantly learn and hone one's craft.
If we talk about poetry, it is not a management tool, but rather a way of spiritual purification, an escape from the daily grind. When you write, you live in another dimension. I remember once writing over twenty stanzas in one sitting, without making any edits. A pure stream of thoughts and feelings. I try to preserve everything—the poems haven't been lost, many are waiting for their time. I even tried to publish a small selection: I negotiated with editors and a printing house, but somehow it didn't work out. In the end, I decided to take my time. I guess everything has its time. The main thing is that inspiration doesn't vanish without a trace.
I should note that my passion for art wasn't limited to poetry. I graduated from music school, where for five years I studied the accordion as my primary instrument, as well as piano, solfeggio, choral singing, and musical literature—both foreign and national. It was a complete education, shaping my sense of rhythm, harmony, and discipline. To this day, when I listen to music, I can often unmistakably identify the composer.
But besides music, I also had sports in my life: first, naval all-around, then football, and from ages 14 to 17, I spent almost three years boxing at the Dynamo club. Spiritual and physical development went hand in hand: one taught patience and discipline, the other, willpower and strength. These different facets helped me better understand the importance of maintaining a balance between mind, body, and soul in life. It is this balance, in my opinion, that makes a person harmonious and resilient in the face of any challenges.
— Azer muallim, what advice would you give to young people and those at the beginning of their careers?
— First of all, it's important to understand that any beginning is only the first step, which means it's a time of formation, exploration, and learning. The beginning of a journey may not be the most successful, and there's nothing wrong with that. The main thing is to perceive this period as an opportunity to learn something new, gain experience, identify your strengths, and the direction in which you want to develop.
When setting career goals, everyone relies on their abilities, education, inclinations, and interests. It all depends on how you're predisposed to begin your career path. Sometimes you have to start small. Even if it's not entirely right for you, any job provides valuable experience, fosters discipline, and helps you understand what you want. Small successes, no matter how modest, eventually add up to a grand story of professional growth. Step by step, like beads "stringing" your results onto the thread of your career path, you create a solid foundation for future heights.
You can be a perfectionist and set lofty goals—it's often said that "it's a poor soldier who doesn't dream of becoming a general." But it's important to remember: to become a general, you need to work on yourself constantly, every day, 24 hours a day. The world is changing rapidly, and every missed moment can cost you a lost opportunity. Therefore, goals should be realistic and achievable, but always with the potential for growth.
You can't be complacent. Any result is a success, built on past experience. The path to success is never smooth: sometimes you encounter failures, sometimes unexpected discoveries. But it is these steps that shape life experience, discipline, and the ability to see your purpose in life.
Networking is often discussed these days. It is truly an important tool in the modern world. By creating a circle of like-minded people around you and expanding this circle, you create your own space, your own world, where trust, mutual support, and respect are valued. A strong network of contacts is not just a social resource, but a part of your personal capital that helps you grow both professionally and spiritually. Moreover, in all this, you mustn't forget the most important thing: values. Profession and values complement each other. Without a moral core, any professional achievement loses its depth. The harmony of these two components creates a true professional and individual.
Don't make plans "for tomorrow"; start implementing them today. The world is too dynamic to wait for the right moment and put things off until later. If you have an idea, you need to work on how to realize it, what resources are needed, what qualities you possess, and how you can take action now. Action is the best way to turn a dream into a result.
I believe that the career path of a modern young person is built on these qualities and indicators. If a young person consciously charts their path from a young age, understands where they want to achieve success, what education they need to obtain, what skills they need to develop, then this is the beginning of their success. The algorithm for success always consists of several elements: hard work, determination, discipline, self-confidence, and respect for their work. When all of this comes together, success becomes not an accident, but a logical result of personal development.
Interview conducted by Jamala Nakhchivani, Editor-in-Chief of Global Art magazine.
