Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – August 14, 1996

Mr. [Syed Hossein] Mousavian, our ambassador in Germany, came. He insisted that I meet with the special envoy of Mr. [Helmut] Kohl, [German Prime Minister], and complained about the disruptions of the Ministry of Intelligence in the policy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and announced the raising of the level of Hermes insurance in Germany, after the exchange of corpses in Lebanon and Israel. Mr. [Hamidreza] Asefi, our ambassador in France, came. He gave a report on the positive changes in France's policy towards Iran and the resolution of Iran's debts to Peugeot. He complained about the unaccountable work of the Ministry of Information.

The managers of the free zones came. They asked foreign banks to solve the problems of regulations and to issue establishment permits. Mr. Mohadi, the commander of the security corps, came and asked for the welfare of the personnel. In the evening, the Supreme Administrative Council had a meeting. We had approvals regarding the selection of exemplary employees and unfinished discussions on organizing the customs situation in the border areas.

I participated in the club of the institution [of the presidency], in the gathering of foreign representatives. Dr. Velayati, [Minister of Foreign Affairs], gave a work report. I spoke in detail about the state of the country, the strength of the revolution, the progress of the country in the first and second programs in all sectors, in order to raise awareness and strengthen their morale against the negative propaganda of foreigners. It ended with prayer and dinner.