Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – January 27, 1997

From home, we went to the education center for disabled children of workers. Mr. [Hossein] Kamali, [Minister of Labor and Social Affairs] and the directors of "Institute of Action" reported on the establishment of non-profit schools and this center. They have taken the land in Zafaraniyeh Shemiran, with my assistance, from the Mustafafan Foundation, in front of the club owned by the Ministry of Labor in Dubai. It has a capacity of 100 people; with rehabilitation, educational and preventive departments and dormitories. I visited different parts and talked with teachers and students. In the ceremony, after the report of the Minister of Labor and the awarding of badges to two of the Deputy Ministers of Labor, I had an encouraging talk about technical and professional training services.

I went to my office. [Mr. Nicholas Peterashton Warner], the Australian ambassador, came to say goodbye. He said that his mother, who recently came to Tehran, visited Khayyam's tomb in Neishabur and criticized him for not visiting Khayyam's shrine. He read his poems in his youth. [Mr. Boris Sheikh Muradov], Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan came. He told the Afaghaneh community that they are in Iran for peace negotiations at the invitation of Iran and said that Mr. Niazoff is also coming to Iran and ordered him to accept our demands. They have a dispute with Azerbaijan over an oil tank in the Caspian.

In the evening we went to Saadabad. I had a meeting with Mr. [Golbodin] Hekmatyar, [leader of Hizb-e-Islami]. He is not in a good mood and criticizes Mr. [Burhanuddin] Rabbani, [Ahmed Shah] Masoud and [Abdul Rashid] Dostum. We want to help him fight independently. I participated in the gathering of participants in the issue of peace in Afghanistan. Mr. Velayati gave the report of the agreement and the statement and I gave a short speech on the importance of maintaining peace on the axis of maintaining the legitimacy of the government.

We had an iftar feast. Then a meeting with Mr. [Sibghatullah] Mojdadi, who said that he is trying to mediate between the government and the Taliban. A meeting with Mr. Seyyed Mansour Naderi, the leader of the Ismailis of Afghanistan; He is an interesting person. He expressed his devotion and obedience to Iran and asked for assistance and cooperation and said that there are one million Ismailis there. They are in the northern region of Salang and have rich gold mines. He brought a carpet with Imam's photo as a gift. He was in prison during the communist rule.

Mr. Sheikh Asif Mohseni, [Leader of Islamic Movement Party] came. He also spoke about the lack of trust between the forces stationed in the north and the Taliban, and considers them weak and calls for Iran's help. Mr. [Mohammed] Akbari came. He also does not have much hope for the success of the Afghan government against the Taliban, and he is very upset about the Shia conflict and blames [Karim] Khalili. Khalili did not come to Iran with the delegation because of Akbari's arrival and opposed the meeting. Then, in the presence of Dr. Velayati, Borujerdi, Najafi and Haddadi, we discussed how to help the Afghan government and coordinate the Shiites. I came home Light snow has started to fall. Today, Akhu Mohammad, [executive deputy of the president] came. He said about the manner in which his non-candidacy and Mr. [Syed Mohammad] Khatami's candidacy in the [Construction] Agents [Party] were raised.