Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – April 30, 1997

For the opening of the energy management conference, I went from home to the location of the radio and television conferences. We visited its exhibition. At the meeting, after the report and welcome by [Mr. Bijan Namdar Zanganeh], Minister of Energy and Dr. [Mohammed Reza] Omidkhah, [Secretary of the conference] and giving the badge of merit to Mr. [Mohsen Safai] Farahani, [Advisor to the Minister of Energy], I gave a speech. Regarding the importance of energy in today's human life and the abundance of energy resources in Iran, as well as the technology of using resources and ways to improve energy consumption in Iran, which are used by very wasteful people, and one of the factors of Iran's power and strength, I introduced these facilities, and the failure of the recent European invasion, following the action of the Mykonos Court, which was stated in last night's statement of the European Union's foreign ministers, and refraining from the sanctions that the United States demanded, and the return of their ambassadors, as well I spoke to explain that the announcement of the suspension of the critical dialogue is only a pretense, because it had already been stopped because of our seven criticisms of Europe.

I went to my office. [Mohammed Ali Qanezadeh], our ambassador came to Nigeria. He explained about the importance of Nigeria and the need to approach it and cooperate in oil. Mr. Ansari Qomi, the brother of late [Sheikh Morteza] Ansari - preacher Qomi - came. They thanked me for my services to Iran and honoring the clergy and Islam, and asked me to help release 252 Iranian Shia scholars who have been imprisoned in Iraq since 17 years ago, including his brother Mr. Sheikh Ahmad, who has not been heard from. He narrated a story that during the Imam's stay in Najaf, his brother used to take some yogurt to the Imam every day from the cow's milk that was milked by the owner of the cow in his house. Once in a week, the cowherd did not come and the imam sent a message that they needed milk. He followed up and found out that the owner of the dead cow and his wife did not know the house, and with their suggestion, he set the cow free and followed it and came to the door of the house. He asked me, if I go to Makkah, we should ask them to improve the situation of Baqi' and also tell the administrators of Qom to preserve Astan Sheikhan in the design of the large square.

Mr. [Hasan] Kamran and his wife, Ms. [Nire] Akhwan, representative of Isfahan, came and asked for construction plans and complained about the behavior of the opposition and asked for my opinion about the future president. I said I don't care. Mr. [Mohammed Hasan] Tulayi, [CEO of the Armed Forces Aviation Industry Organization] and the managers came and reported on the contract for the manufacture of aircraft engines with Russia and maintenance.

Akhvi Mohammad, [executive vice president], came for current affairs, including telephone and satellite issues. In the evening, we had some resolutions in the meeting of the government board. Regarding the possibility of European countries coordinating against us, once again because of the leader's statements that the German ambassador will not come for the time being, and then France's statement that it will not leave Germany alone. In the reports, the pressure of the Turkish military and laymen on Erbakan's government is considered.