Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi - August 1, 2001 - Meeting with Sheikh Ali Moshkini and Complaints about the Moral and Intellectual Deviations of the Reformists of the Second of Khordad! Invitation to Hashemi to Accept the Presidency of the Assembly of Experts

Meeting with the Directors of the International Affairs Department of the IRIB and Listening to Mohammad Honardoust's Report

Continuing the meetings of Dr. Seyed Taha Hashemi, complaints about the opposition to his appointment as the head of the Islamic Culture and Communication Organization and the treatment he received regarding the Entekhab newspaper from the office of the Supreme Leader.

Meeting with the President of the Algerian Parliament.

Interview focusing on Mahmoud Sari' al-Qalam.

Meeting with Sheikh Ali Moshkini and complaints about the moral and intellectual deviations of the reformists of the Second of Khordad! Invitation to Hashemi to accept the presidency of the Assembly of Experts and Hashemi's decline.

Full Text of the Daily Entry:

The directors of the International Affairs Department of the IRIB, along with representatives from nine foreign countries, came to meet. Mr. [Mohammad] Honardoust, [the Assistant for Communications and International Affairs of the National Media], reported, and I delivered an extensive speech on the age of communication, the information explosion, the importance of accurate reporting in this time, and the serious psychological warfare by the enemies against the revolution, and the duties and capabilities of the IRIB.

Mr. Taha Hashemi, [the managing director of the Entekhab newspaper], came. He expressed his grievances about the opposition from the leadership office regarding his responsibility for the [Cultural and] Islamic Communication Organization. He believes that Mr. [Seyed Mohammad] Khatami, [the President], and [Ahmad] Masjed-Jame'i, [the Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance], are in favor, but the leadership and their office are against him. He also complained about being asked to write that the Entekhab newspaper, which is under his name, does not belong to him and about a returned check that was given for a loan to the office. I said that it seems this situation has arisen due to his ambiguous statements and actions aimed at pleasing both sides [the left and the right].

In the afternoon, [Mr. Abdelkader Ben Salah], the President of the Algerian Parliament, came. I had extensive discussions about the situation in Algeria, the development of cooperation, and support for the Al-Aqsa Intifada. They are still facing issues with the Islamic movement as well as the recent actions of the Berbers. He believes that France and international socialists are exacerbating public opposition in Algeria.

I had a detailed interview with several political science professors regarding Iran's foreign policy, including strategic issues. Dr. [Mahmoud] Sari' al-Qalam conducted the interview.

Ayatollah [Ali] Moshkini, [the President of the Assembly of Experts], came for a visit. He expressed fatigue and weariness due to the weakness of old age and conveyed concern about the moral and intellectual deviations that have emerged after the Second of Khordad and the instigation of these issues by the Second of Khordad reformists. He brought a gift of his own publications and asked me to accept the presidency of the [Assembly of Experts] in the next session; I declined.

Today, Israel attacked a Hamas center, martyring 10 people and injuring 15, and Hamas declared the members of the Israeli government and parliament to be "worthy of death." The UN Security Council has intensified sanctions against the Taliban and set a program to prevent arms from entering Afghanistan through Pakistan, combat drug trafficking, and fight against [Osama] bin Laden, [the leader of Al-Qaeda]. It has not imposed sanctions on arms for [Ahmad Shah Masoud in] the United Front in the north.

The U.S. has threatened Iraq, stating that if it attacks aircraft operating in Iraqi airspace, it will face military punishment. Iraq has also stated that it will open fire on the invading aircraft. Today, it was also announced that they fired missiles at a reconnaissance aircraft.

The European Union has criticized the threat of sanctions against Iran and Libya and warned the U.S. Russia has tested a missile with a range of seven thousand miles as a response to America's Star Wars program.