Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – January 30, 1997

[Mr. Issa Kalantari], the Minister of Agriculture and managers of Khuzestan sugarcane cultivation and industry, came with a report on the progress of the work and requested to fulfill the obligation of banks and social security for payment of foreign currency and Rial. The first sugar factory will be put into operation in 1377.

[Mr. Zubair Mohammad Saleh], the first vice president of Sudan came. He reported the new situation of his country. They attacked Sudan from the border of Eritrea and Ethiopia and advanced about 30 kilometers in Sudan. They say that the soldiers are from Ethiopia and Eritrea, but they say that they are Sudanese rebels. Sudan has mobilized the people with good propaganda and has succeeded in attracting the support of some Arab and Islamic countries. He brought General Omar al-Bashir's letter and asked for oil and weapons. It was agreed that the experts of the two countries will negotiate on the type and quality of aid and how to repay them. They said that Iraq is also ready to participate in the aid by delivering oil to Iran. But the problem is the prohibition of the United Nations [sanctions of the Security Council and the oil against food program].

The anti-narcotics headquarters had a meeting with several resolutions; including the approval of the 1376 budget in the amount of 139 billion Rials. In the evening, in the meeting of the government board, we had some resolutions. A group of former students of the Haqqani School, who today hold important cultural, judicial and security posts, were my guests. After breaking the fast, I talked to them about cultural, political, economic and social issues.