Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – 15 September 2002

For the opening of the Congress of the Union of Islamic Student Associations, we went to the IRIB International Conference Center. Mr. [Mohammad Javad Haji] Ali Akbari, the representative of the Supreme Leader in the Union, delivered a welcome speech, and Mr. [Amir] Khorakian, the head of the Union, also gave explanations. I gave a detailed speech about the role of students in today’s and tomorrow’s society, the formation of individuals’ personalities during this period, and the efforts of the enemies to mislead teenagers who have little knowledge of the harsh conditions before the Revolution and the important achievements of the Revolution. I emphasized the need for more efforts in proper information dissemination.

Mrs. [Maryam] Behrouzi came and said that two or three years ago, the Zeinab Society experienced disagreements and a split, and a group calling itself the Central Council of the Zeinab Society—who came to meet me a few days ago and whose secretary-general is Mrs. [Azam Haji] Abbasi—are not legitimate. She said that among revolutionary Muslim circles, my recent speeches in Friday Prayers and the Assembly of Experts are considered important and of high quality.

In the afternoon, Dr. [Abdollah] Jasbi, [President of Islamic Azad University], came. We discussed the Islamic Azad University and the purchase of part of a university in England for Azad University, his trip to Canada for the Executive Council of 600 world universities, the establishment of centers for nanotechnology, biotechnology, and IT, the City of Science project, dissertations related to the History Foundation, safeguarding the rights of quota-based applicants who have complaints, the transfer of students between universities, as well as political issues and municipal elections.

George Bush said that the credibility of the United Nations depends on a serious stance against Iraq. North Korea and South Korea signed an agreement to connect the railways of the two countries and to clear the border village of mines for cross-border activities.

In Russia, the thirteenth helicopter of the year crashed, bringing the death toll to 190. [Saud Al-Faisal], the Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia, said that if the United Nations approves the attack on Iraq, Saudi bases will be used.

Mehdi, Fereshteh, and Fouad also went to Umrah today. I had a phone call with Effat from Mecca.