Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – June 23, 1997

The executive directors of the elections came from the Ministry of Interior and other supporters. [Mr. Ali Mohammad Basharti], the Minister of the Interior, reported and I also talked about the integrity of the elections. [Mr. Mehdi Reza Darvishzadeh], representative of Dezful, came and asked for sewage, hospital, medical school and speed of work. Mr. [Syed Abbas] Paknejad, representative of Yazd, came. He was a supporter for the affairs of the province and brought suggestions, including new technology for generating electricity from gas, which I sent to the Ministry of Energy.

Dr. [Mohammadreza] Aref, the president of Tehran University, came. He thanked me for my support and consulted about a possible responsibility in the future cabinet for the Ministry of Science or Telecommunications. Permission was obtained to give an honorary doctorate to Dr. [Hasan] Habibi.

In the evening Mr. [Mortaza] Al-Vairi, [the head of the Free Trade Zones Organization] came. To solve the customs problems of the free zones and the problem of Dr. [Mohammed Taghi], he consulted a bank. Mr. [Asghar] Ebrahimi, [CEO of Metro Company] came. He gave a report on the status of the subway and the remaining needs in foreign currency and Riyal, and asked for help to complete the provision of the needs during my responsibility.

Dr. [Majid] Abbaspour, [Technical Advisor to the President] came. He gave a report on special defense industries and got opinions. He was allowed to shirk his responsibility for the sake of recognition. Mr. [Akbar] Turkan, [Minister of Roads and Transportation] came. To solve the problems, the contractor of Imam Khomeini Airport appealed. I completed the work.

I went to the Nihad [Presidential] club for the meeting of the deputies and senior managers. Ministers also participated. The speeches of Mr. [Hasan] Habibi, [First Vice President] and [Mohammed Ali] Najafi, [Minister of Education], and then the ceremony of awarding the medal of independence to Dr. Habibi and my speech about the highlights of the achievements of the period of responsibility and appreciation for the services of senior managers were held. Then we prayed Maghrib and Isha prayers, had dinner and dispersed.

In the reports, the news of the explosion in the Lushan coal mine and the death and injuries of about 50 workers caused me great sadness. Eft had gone to Qom for the ceremony of the deceased [Syed Mohammad Baqer] Sultani, and the issue of not burying him in Qom, despite the previous announcement and returning the body from Qom and burying it in the Imam's mausoleum, has caused rumors and discussions. It seems that the reality is that Astana [Hazrat Masoumeh (PBUH)] did not agree with the spot that they wanted for the burial place and suggested other places that were not acceptable to them and they forced him.