Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – January 4, 1994

We had rain last night and today. Our guests went to Mazandaran today and visited Gonbad, Kalaleh and Ramsar. They were influenced by the rich nature of Mazandaran. Mehdi had also gone with them.

At half past nine in the morning, [Mr. Gholamreza Aghazadeh], the Minister of Oil, came and requested sixteen million cubic meters per day for the opening of the LC in the Gas Refining Unit in Sarkhes, and asked for permission to rent a drilling rig in the Caspian Sea from the Republic of Azerbaijan, as well as handing over the Abu Dhar platform project to domestic companies, because the American contractor avoided giving 30% of the gas to the country. I accepted all. He also proposed a new idea regarding the use of South Pars.

Mr. [Mustafa] Mirslim, [Secretary of the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution], came to prepare the order of the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution. Mr. Gudarzi came and asked for help for the protection demolition personnel. The board of trustees of the university witnessed the meeting. We approved the plan of the central building and we had a number of other approvals and I heard the work report.

Fati came. As usual, he had several letters. Sarshab [Mr. Ishaq Jahangiri], the governor of Isfahan, came and asked for the work of the province. I explained the reason for not being appointed to the board of directors of Qeshm Azad region. He said that Mr. Niyazov was impressed by the greatness of the factory during his visit to Foulad Mobarakeh, but he did not have much time to visit different parts.

At night, I went to visit Ayatollah [Syed Abd al-Karim] Mousavi Ardabili in Khatam al-Anbia Hospital. With an incomplete stroke, the left side of his body is immobilized and he speaks with difficulty; It is getting better. His children and his son-in-law, Mr. Qasimzadeh, were also there. From there, I went to the residence of Mr. Niyazov, who has returned from Mazandaran. He expressed his gratitude for the facilities of traveling and meeting Turkmens in Gonbadkavus. It was strongly influenced by Mazandaran and Ramsar. He said that because they themselves have turned away from God, their shores do not have these blessings. I told him to bring Mr. Yeltsin to see the greatness here. He was influenced by Mahdi's knowledge and talent. asked and consulted about Afghanistan issues; I said that we have a policy of neutrality in their civil wars. He said they are also neutral. He said that Russia and General Dostum have asked him to arrange a meeting with Russian military leaders in Turkmenistan.