Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – April 26, 2003

In the session of the Assembly [Determining Expediency of the Nizam], the work of the general policies of the communication department was finished.  It was decided to use the necessary software for the Persian translation of the Internet.  In the evening, Dr. [Mohammed Hossein] Adeli, [Economic Deputy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs] came.  He criticizes the economic policies and the weakness of the economic team and the mistakes of participation and emphasized the need for planning to reduce the risk of America.
At night, we were guests of the leadership with [Mr. Seyed Mohammad Khatami, Mehdi Karroubi and Seyed Mahmoud Hashemi Shahroudi] the heads of the forces.  They asked the leaders of the forces to report on the measures they have taken to fight economic corruption. They said things, but there was no content. 
In Baghdad, as a result of the explosion of an ammunition warehouse, a number of people have been killed.  People blame America and America blames the Baathist forces.  Mr. Khatami, [President] said, Syrians have handed over [Jamal Mostafa Tikriti], the son-in-law of Saddam [Hussein], to satisfy America and have promised to cooperate on the issue of Palestine.
Yesterday, at the OPEC meeting, it was approved to increase oil production by one and a half million barrels, which caused the price of oil to drop.  Although in the news they said that because of the emphasis on respecting the quotas, two million barrels of production will be reduced in practice. 
Sars virus is still at the top of the news, and the important point is China, which has almost half of the deaths and patients.  The World Health Organization has suggested that people avoid going to China and Toronto, Canada, which has angered Canada.  In China, schools have been closed for two weeks and the International Book Fair has been delayed by six months.  Some say, these noises are meant to weaken China's economy, which has been growing rapidly recently.
One of the guards came with his wife.  They have differences and are thinking of divorce;  I advised them to build and tolerate.