Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – February 28, 1996

[Mr. Saeed al-Attar], Deputy Prime Minister of Yemen came. He gave a report on the situation of his country and mentioned with admiration the problems they have with Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Eritrea and the problems left over from the civil war and the progress and successes of Iran and called it a suitable model for Islamic countries. He requested private time. Then he told the message of Abdullah Saleh, the president of Yemen, and asked for help to strengthen their navy in order to confront Eritrea in Hanish Island and other islands in the Red Sea, and gave explanations about these islands; He raised the possibility that Israel is behind Hanish's occupation; They want speedboats and weapons. I said they should conclude a purchase contract. They expect free help, which I did not accept. I said we will sell with a deadline. He was also the oil minister; He also applied for oil cooperation.

[Mr. Baba Abubakar Drama], the Gambian ambassador came to present the credentials; He is the first ambassador of this country. [Mr. Belginbayev Nurlan], Minister of Oil of Kazakhstan came. The letter [of their president] brought Mr. Nazarbayev, who requested to agree to receive their oil in the north and deliver oil in the south; I agreed. He asked for a discount on the transit fee. It is an important issue for us and them. For now, we refine their oil in the Tehran refinery for ourselves, but the discussion of creating a pipeline to the south is discussed for the future. Mr. Mirzadeh, [Head of the Program and Budget Organization] came and asked for permission to cover budget deficits. He made an interesting suggestion about the combined use of the country's mines and the elements available in Iran.

In the evening of Mr. [Abbas Waez] Tabasi, [Tawlit Astan Quds Razavi] came. We negotiated about the elections and the endowment lands of Astan Quds in Tehran, the construction plans of Sarkhs and the opening program of the Mashhad-Sarkhas railway. In the meeting of the government board, we had several resolutions. I stayed in my office at night and completed the work due to tomorrow's trip. At night, heavy snow fell in a part of Tehran and we had good rain today.