Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – December 12, 1994

[Mr. Mohammadreza Nematzadeh], Minister of Industries came. In order to facilitate the opening of foreign currency credits for industries and facilities in the use of export currencies, he appealed by amending the approvals of the 3rd Committee and allowing the export of some of the products that have recently been banned in order to lower their exorbitant export prices, such as tomato paste, and he was happy to remove the note on the division of industries management with the help of the Guardian Council.

Mr. [Mohsen] Nurbakhsh, [Riskal Bank Central] came. He gave a report on the situation of foreign exchange consumption and the solution of some of the problems of arrears and remaining problems and foreign exchange needs of 1374, and he spoke about the peace in the free foreign exchange market, and he gave an explanation of the new plan to facilitate the use of export currency, and he relied on the institutions to prevent the pressure of foreign currency demand. Dr. [Shahla] Habibi, [Head of the Presidential Women's Center] came. He applied for the purchase of a place for the women's office and complained about the lack of attention of the institutions and the attitude of the Ministry of Information.

[Mr. Fernando Oliveira], Portuguese Minister of Trade came. The negotiations were about the development of commercial cooperation. He said, for this purpose, they have given a credit of one hundred and fifty million dollars. Mr. Al-Ishaq, [Minister of Commerce] also gave a report on his trip to Poland and the readiness of the Poles to sell all kinds of military needs and so on to Iran and develop cooperation.

I spoke on the phone with Ayatollah Khamenei. Regarding authority, I made a suggestion and gave a theory that regarding the declaration of rejection of authority, it is good not to rush to consult for the quality of the declaration.

In the evening Mr. [Masoud Roghani] Zanjani, [Head of the Program and Budget Organization] came. He explained the latest amendments to the 1374 budget. The Economic Council had a meeting with some simple resolutions. I did the work until nine o'clock at night and came home. I was waiting for the final text of tomorrow's speech in the parliament, but it did not arrive. I watched an episode of "The Apartment" series; I did not see anything that showed insult to Azerbaijanis. The representatives of Azerbaijan and some academicians of Tabriz and Urmia have filed a complaint as an insult to the Turkic-speaking people.