Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – December 18, 1991

I did the rest until half past ten in the morning, which is almost finished. Mr. Vaezi and Kharazi came. They reported the work with the Secretary General about solving the hostage issue and the resolution. I thanked them and decided to continue to complete the work.

They brought a message from the Americans who disclaimed their responsibility regarding Salman Rushdie's trip to America and said that Columbia University invited him without obtaining the approval of the American government. America's consideration of Iran is interesting in this regard. They were supposed to answer them, it's good that they informed them, otherwise, unpleasant incidents might have happened.

Mr. [Gian Domenico] Pico, Deputy Secretary General came and brought the Secretary General's letter. He thanked Iran for helping to free the hostages and asked us to help free the Germans and help the Israeli pilots to free the Lebanese. I made a promise about the Germans and I said about the Israeli prisoners that we have done nothing, and I thanked and encouraged him for declaring his opinion about Iraq being an aggressor and said that if we say little in our statements, it is to avoid possible bad interpretations by others.

In the evening, I attended the meeting of the government. I came home at night. May chastity and immorality come from Mecca. Faezeh had prepared dinner and Yaser laid the table. Chastity arrived around twelve o'clock. He is very satisfied with his trip to Mecca. The Saudis have welcomed and received him well and with the necessary respect, they have taken him to the house of God and the shrine of the Prophet (pbuh) and others.