Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – January 24, 1997

Mr. [Abd al-Hossein] Vahaji, [General Director of Customs] came. He reported the work of the customs and the problems and asked for the provision of personnel and regulations. Mr. Masih Mohajeri, [president's social advisor] came. He brought the report of his trip to the countries of Central Asia and emphasized on helping the Imam Khomeini Mosque in Rafsanjani village, in Merv, Turkmenistan and the seminary in Kenya. They talked about the presidential election.

Mr. [Ali] Abedzadeh, CEO of Asman Aviation Company came. He expressed his admiration for the many services of the government and his concern about the future and said that he and his colleagues believe that I am oppressed and freedom-loving. He gave a report on the progress of the company's affairs and requested for the development of foreign currency and Rial. He complains about the proceedings of the court related to the plane crash in Isfahan, but his mood is good. Mr. Javad Rafiq Dost came and asked me to help save his brother [Morteza Rafiq Dost]; They believe that during the trial, he was wronged by some of the press; I consoled him. Mr. Shujai came and gave reports on information issues.

By five o'clock in the afternoon, I completed the office work and went to the Nihad [Presidential] club. We had invited the lord of the press and media to the Iftar banquet. After the congregational prayer and breaking the fast, Mr. [Mustafa] Mirslim, [Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance], [Ali] Larijani, [Head of Broadcasting Organization] and [Syed Mahmoud] Doaei, [Head of the Information Institute] thanked and reported. I also answered the audience's questions by giving a short introductory speech and narrating a memory of sending Mr. Doa'i's mother to Najaf, when he was a fugitive before the revolution. It was a good meeting. Agha Jalal informed that today, the electricity of the gas stove in the house found a connection and electrocuted Efat while she was cooking, but she was not injured.