Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – August 18, 1996

Dr. [Hassan] Habibi came to get an opinion on the negotiations with the Syrian Prime Minister. They also talked about the elections. [Mr. Abbas Akhundi], Minister of Housing [and Urban Development] and a group of colleagues came; To explain the improvement plan around the shrine of Imam Reza (a.s.) and to ask me to encourage the people to buy shares, which currently amount to eight billion tomans in three installments; It is a great and interesting work.

Mr. [Syedhasan] Sadouq, our [ambassador and] representative in UNESCO [United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization] came and gave a report of his efforts; In order to criticize his lack of work. [Mr. Issa Kalantari], the Minister of Agriculture came and asked for my opinion on two new plans: one is to establish engineering service companies in the villages, to save money on the purchase of agricultural machinery and laboratories, and the other is to hire a defense lawyer for the villagers, to pursue their rights, which the villagers usually do not know or cannot pursue; I liked both.

Also, Mr. Timurian, who was with him, presented a plan to return the water of the huge Shirvan River, which goes from Kurdistan to Iraq, with a fifty-kilometer tunnel, to transfer the water to the Pol Zahab plain, Qasr Shirin, and Naft Shahr; I found it very interesting.

Managers of broadcasting agencies abroad came. Mr. [Ali] Larijani, [Head of Broadcasting Organization], reported and I also spoke and gave instructions. In the evening Mr. [Mustafa] Mirslim came for the order of the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution. Mr. [Mohammedreza] Nematzadeh came for the foreign exchange problems of industries.

We had a two-and-a-half-hour detailed interview on the occasion of government week with radio and television, which consisted of questions and answers on all issues. I came home at night. Dr. Mohammad's nephew and his family came.