Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi - January 7, 2002 - Meeting with Masoud Safiri and Discussions on Abbas Amir Entezam's Memoirs and Other Consultations

Meeting with the Moroccan Foreign Minister and Necessary Political Consultations

Meeting with Masoud Safiri and Discussions on Abbas Amir Entezam's Memoirs and Other Consultations

Meeting with Habibullah Bourbour, the Dismissed Deputy Minister of Education, Regarding Political and Developmental Consultations

Complete Daily Entry:

Mr. [Mohammed Ben Essa], the Moroccan Foreign Minister, visited. Discussions centered on the issues facing the Islamic world and the necessity of cooperation among key Islamic nations, particularly concerning Palestine and other troubled regions. I emphasized that if the Islamic world utilizes its economic, political, geographical, market, and energy capacities, it can defend its rights everywhere. He requested a private meeting and conveyed a message from [Mohammed VI], the King of Morocco, requesting Iran to withdraw its recognition of the Polisario Front and the [Democratic Arab Republic of] Sahara. I stated that we would consider this, as it might be related to Morocco's position on the Iranian islands.

Mr. [Masoud] Safiri, editor-in-chief of [the newspaper] Hayat-e No, came to discuss the factional disputes that have escalated dangerously, noting that society expects me to promote coordination and collaboration to quell tensions. He mentioned that [Abbas] Amir Entezam, the spokesman for the provisional government of Engineer Bazargan, has written his memoirs but is not allowed to publish them, in which he acknowledges the positive roles played by me and Mr. Khamenei during the early days of the revolution. He requested assistance in securing Amir Entezam's release. He also expressed concerns about the lack of commercial advertisements for newspapers, aside from Hamshahri, Etemad, Kayhan, and Jam-e Jam. We agreed that he would bring a copy of Amir Entezam's memoirs.

Mr. [Habibullah] Bourbour visited, expressing his discontent regarding his dismissal from the Deputy Ministerial position for Development in the Education Ministry, especially concerning the stoppages he encountered in school construction by the private sector. He mentioned that a philanthropist is willing to invest tens of billions of tomans in a cultural charity foundation, such as a dormitory and university. I suggested that if the funds were allocated for establishing a research center and genetic industries, it would also be a positive step. He consulted on establishing an organization for revolutionary forces.

In the evening, a group of residents from Qom came to seek support for important projects in Qom, such as constructing a large square, the Haram-to-Haram project, transferring water from the Ra'i valley, and establishing a comprehensive university that I proposed. I inquired about Mr. Ali Larijani, [the head of the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting], who suffered a mild stroke.

The U.S. announced that evidence has been obtained linking the 15-year-old American, who crashed a Cessna into a forty-story building in Florida, to [Osama] bin Laden, the leader of al-Qaeda. There is a growing outcry from Afghan elders regarding the continued U.S. bombardment of Afghanistan. Israel continues its propaganda against Iran and [Yasser] Arafat concerning the ship carrying weapons. It appears that the captain stated he had loaded cargo off the shores of Kish Island, and some sources indicate that the ship is Iraqi.