Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi - September 7, 2001 - Trip to Kerman and Participation in the Commemoration of Martyr Mohammad Javad Bahonar, Report of the First Day by Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani

Trip to Kerman and Participation in the Commemoration of Martyr Mohammad Javad Bahonar, Report of the First Day by Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani

Full Text of the Daily Memo:

At seven in the morning, we flew from Tehran Airport to Kerman for the opening of the congress commemorating the eighth anniversary of Dr. [Mohammad Javad] Bahonar. Iftah and Fati were with me. After a brief interview and a warm welcome from provincial officials at the airport, we headed to the congress venue at the Kerman prayer site. I stayed until noon, and after a lengthy speech that was broadcast live by the state television, we went to the residence of martyr Bahonar in the city neighborhood. It has been renovated and transformed into a museum house showcasing the works of martyr Bahonar; it was inaugurated, and we visited the exhibits. I gave a brief interview. The renovation cost 150 million tomans.

We went to the provincial governor's guesthouse, where we usually stay during trips. After lunch and some rest, I reviewed reports and then went to inaugurate the cultural complex of martyr Bahonar, located next to the prayer site and the Sacred Defense Museum, which includes a library and a Quran training center. Two thousand five hundred square meters were inaugurated, and after listening to reports from Engineer Hashemi [Samareh] and Dr. Naser [Bahonar]—the martyr Bahonar's nephew and son—I gave a short speech.

Then, along with the governor and Mr. Hossein Marashi, the representative from Kerman, we made a brief visit to the "Seven Gardens and Seven Skies" project on the route from Kerman to Mahan. The highway has been constructed and is ongoing.

We proceeded towards Rafsanjan. After passing the gardens, we visited the large Kerman power plant. Mr. [Mahdi] Pazouki, the Deputy Minister of Energy, reported to the managers. I encouraged them as well. We toured the power plant; two units are completed and operational, and six more are under construction, which is set to be ultimately integrated into a combined cycle. We acquired the technology from Italy, and while the Islamic Bank provided some financing, the majority of the funding came from Italy.

After Maghrib prayers, we headed towards Rafsanjan. We arrived at nine o'clock at night. We went straight to the Rafsanjan Cultural, Sports, and Services Complex, which includes the documentation center, library, and the President’s museum. There were a lot of people present. I was happy to see them and received thanks for the establishment of this center. After the prayers, I visited various sections of the museum. With a display of most of the gifts from my presidency and chairmanship of the Parliament, as well as cultural artifacts and samples related to the defense [and martyrs of Rafsanjan], the museum has become quite interesting. I also visited the commercial and sports sections, as well as the park and lake.

Then I visited the new Haj Sharif Mosque. For dinner, we went to the house of Sheikh Mohammad [Hashemian]. Relatives gathered there, and we spent a long time talking and visiting. At night, I slept on the roof. The nights in desert regions are pleasant.