Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – July 9, 2003

The board of directors of non-governmental organizations [National Youth Employment Network] came from the International Project Secretariat of the Education Development Center, Iran branch.  They explained about the international and regional summits and their plans and programs.  I also raised some points about entrepreneurship solutions and the experience of the construction period - which lowered the unemployment rate from 6.15 to 1.9 within eight months.

Mr. [Syed Mahmoud] Hosseini, the mayor of the 10th district of Tehran, came.  He appreciated the help of Mehdi, [CEO of the country's fuel consumption optimization organization], for optimizing fuel consumption and said, in that area, the design of solar baths and double-glazed windows of the buildings have worked well and said, [Mr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad], the new mayor, is doing better than the previous mayor, but the promises made to move the international exhibition outside the city and to stain the streets are not true.  In order to run for the [seventh] Majlis election, he consulted [constituency] Aliabadkatol.

Mr. [Mohammed Hashem] Zamani, [Director of Noor Fargan and Sir Andiseh Institute] came.  He brought his works about the Qur'an.  He has been a prisoner in Iraq for two years and he expects me to help to release them. 

In the evening, I had an interview with Mr. [Abbas] Seliminemin, [Director of the Iranian History Studies and Compilation Office] about the history of the revolution, the Nojeh coup and the American attack - which failed in Tabas - and the release of the American hostages, etc.

Mr. [Qorban Ali] Dori [Najafabadi] informed by phone that the miscreants killed Mr. Mohammad Ali Rahimi, the imam of the East Tehran congregation, with a knife.  Today, despite the propaganda and promises of foreign and domestic counter-revolution, there has been no movement inside the country - neither in the universities nor outside the universities - and outside Iran, there have been scattered, small and undeveloped communities in some places, which is certainly a source of despair for them.  The activity of Tahkeem Vahdat in Iran has lost its influence among the academics and because of the open letter he wrote to the Secretary General of the United Nations two days ago, repeating anti-revolutionary words and even insulting the Imam;  It is also at risk of liquidation. 

Yesterday, Mr. Haj Habibullah, [Special Deputy] from the Ministry of Information, said that the associations that signed it should be dissolved.  Some of them have been arrested for involvement in riots. 

In Iraq, attacks on Americans and the killing of Iraqis by them are increasing.  [Tony] Blair, [British Prime Minister] and George Bush, [American President] are also under pressure from rivals and public opinion.  There is also a lot of desertion of American soldiers from Iraq.