Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi - August 1, 2001 - Following Ayatollah Khamenei's Call from Mashhad to Hashemi to Attend the Endorsement Ceremony for Mohammad Khatami, Meeting with Vahid Haqaniyan

Meeting for the farewell of Ahmad Khalil Oevich, the Bosnian ambassador in Tehran.

Complaints from Sheikh Habibollah Mohammadian, representative of the Supreme Leader and Friday prayer leader of Zahedan, about efforts to relocate him and his deep discontent with the office of the Supreme Leader.

Report from Mohammad Hashemi on Mohammad Khatami's intention to merge the Executive Vice Presidency, for which he was responsible, into the First Vice Presidency, and the recommendation from Seyed Hossein Marashi and Ishaq Jahangiri for him to accept a ministerial position, which he declined.

Of course, this vice presidency was later revived and separated from the First Vice Presidency.

Coordination for the inauguration of a metro line with Mohsen Hashemi.

Following Ayatollah Khamenei's call from Mashhad to Hashemi to attend the endorsement ceremony for Mohammad Khatami, meeting with Vahid Haqaniyan and coordinating the draft of the presidential appointment document for Khatami.

Full Text of the Daily Entry:

Mr. [Ahmad] Khalil Oevich, the Bosnian ambassador in Iran, came for a farewell. Expressing gratitude for Iran’s assistance to Bosnia during the Reconstruction Government, he requested Iran's help for the return of Bosnian refugees; due to housing and employment issues, many displaced persons are unwilling to return. He believes that Western governments are also not interested in the return of Muslims. I said that after the end of the war, Iran wanted to participate in the reconstruction of Bosnia, but the Americans, with specific goals, prevented Iran's involvement. He said that they are currently not obstructing.

Mr. [Habibollah] Mohammadian, the Friday prayer leader of Zahedan, came. He said that Mr. [Seyed Reza] Taqavi, the head of the Policy-Making Council of Friday Prayer Leaders, invited him to negotiate for relocating his post, but despite the many difficulties he faces in Zahedan, he is unwilling to move elsewhere; he thinks that Mr. Rabani, who is responsible for Sunni issues on behalf of the leadership in Zahedan, has made such a request and is extremely dissatisfied with the leadership office.

My brother Mohammad, [the Executive Vice President] came and said that the Executive Vice Presidency and the First Vice Presidency are to be merged, and Mr. [Hosseini] Marashi, [the representative from Kerman], and [Ishaq] Jahangiri, [the Minister of Industries and Mines], have asked him to accept responsibility for a ministry, but he has declined.

Mohsen, [the chairman and CEO of the Urban Rail Company (Metro)], came, and we organized a visit to Line 1 of the Tehran metro, which is ready for inauguration and operation. In the evening, I officiated the wedding of one of the security personnel of the [Expediency Discernment Council], who is the child of one of the employees.

Mr. Vahid [Haqaniyan] came from the leadership office. He brought the text of the endorsement for Mr. [Seyed Mohammad] Khatami’s presidency, which I am to read tomorrow. They said that the leader is extremely fatigued in Mashhad and has returned to Tehran today for tomorrow's program.

Many countries have condemned Israel's attack on a Hamas center and the killing of several Palestinians; even the U.S. has criticized this action.