Akbar Hashemi's Memoirs - June 6, 2001 - Meeting with Mohammad Hassan Qadiri Abiyaneh and Plans to Enhance Hashemi Rafsanjani's Media Image with His Son's Assistance

Meeting with the South Korean ambassador to Hashemi.

Meeting with Mohammad Hassan Qadiri Abiyaneh and his proposals to enhance Hashemi Rafsanjani's media image with the assistance of his son, along with complaints that he is not given attention in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, contains important points.

Meeting with Ahmad Nategh Nouri along with Ali Asghar Kazemi, who requested Hashemi's intervention to lift the taboo on broadcasting boxing news on state media. Despite Ayatollah Khamenei's stance being contrary to some other opposing clerics, they do not prohibit this sport, and the federation's name has changed to Amateur Boxing.

Meeting with Morteza Shirazi and his request for a job in the government.

Full Text of the Daily Notes:

I had a meeting with [Mr. Lee Sung-chun], the South Korean ambassador. He said that in Korea, I am recognized as someone who has strengthened the foundations of Iran-Korea relations and invited me to visit their country. He provided explanations regarding the reduction of economic problems and the improving relations with North Korea, and I expressed my desire for the development of cooperation and unity between the two Koreas.

[Mr. Mohammad Hassan] Qadiri Abiyaneh came. He presented a plan to counteract the smear campaigns against me and brought a sample prepared by his son, who is a student. He sought collaboration with the Expediency Council regarding his proposal on saving time in the administrative system and mentioned that he and several senior officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, despite receiving salaries from the ministry, were not given any tasks.

In the afternoon, [Mr. Ahmad Nategh Nouri], the head of the boxing federation, along with [Mr. Ali Asghar] Kazemi, a boxing champion, came to express their gratitude to me for reviving the sport of boxing. They expressed their disappointment over the lack of broadcast of boxing news and images on state media, saying that over 200,000 boxing athletes are expecting to hear news about their sport and appealed to me to help remove the obstacles. They mentioned that it seems the leader is not in favor, although boxing has not been officially prohibited. Previously, some clerics had banned it.

[Mr. Morteza] Shirazi, my fellow prisoner during the monarchy, also came to seek a job. News about the [presidential] elections indicates an increasing intensity in the election atmosphere and more conflicts among supporters of candidates. The U.S. has denied reports of opposition to the expansion of Jewish settlements, and [Ariel] Sharon, [the Prime Minister of Israel], has labeled [Yasser] Arafat, [the head of the Palestinian Authority], as a criminal, and some are sensing the smell of war. In southern Palestine, a state of emergency has been declared due to the kidnapping of a group of Western nationals. [Pervez] Musharraf, the executive head of Pakistan, stated that democracy is not suitable for Pakistan. Iraq has halted oil exports and is talking about a retreat after OPEC's decision. Oil prices have risen.