Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – March 22, 1999

After the morning prayer, I walked along the shore until sunrise. The view of the sunrise was very beautiful and poetic. I spoke with the manager of the sports club next to the pavilion. They rent boats and jet skis to people. Since the club is located within the pavilion grounds, the guards have closed it down for security reasons. I was upset. They said there was no alternative. Maintaining security under these circumstances is difficult. It was a mistake on the part of the organization to hand this place over to the private sector. They had been considering moving the pavilion, but the new location was not ready.

I listened to the news and read the reports. The situation in Serbia and Kosovo is receiving attention. NATO has not carried out its deadline for launching air strikes, but continues to threaten. There is no sign of fear on Serbia's part; it is relying on Russia's support.

The situation in Turkey is critical. The interim government of Mr. Bülent Ecevit, [Prime Minister of Turkey], has faced a motion of no confidence, and two possibilities are being discussed: the fall of the government or a postponement of the elections. The religious groups favor the government's fall, while pressure from the military and secularists on the religious groups to prevent them from participating in the elections has increased. Pressure from the Kurds on the government is serious. There have been many explosions and armed clashes, which have intensified during the Nowruz holidays, and the Kurds are taking advantage of the occasion of New Year.

In Chechnya, an explosion was also carried out with the aim of killing Aslan Maskhadof. It appears to have been in retaliation for a major explosion that occurred several days ago in one of Russia's crowded markets and killed dozens of people.

In Afghanistan, despite the Ashgabat reconciliation meeting, fighting has begun and will intensify as the weather warms. The Iraqi government has pressured a group of Iraqi pilgrims who had entered Saudi Arabia two days ago to return, on the pretext that Saudi Arabia is refusing to release Iraq's funds held in banks in that country, which were frozen by order of the Security Council [of the United Nations]. Saudi Arabia says the amount is insignificant and that Iraq owes it dozens of times that amount. In addition, Iraq owes seven billion dollars that it borrowed from others during the war with Iran, with Saudi Arabia's guarantee, and has not repaid. Saudi Arabia has agreed to cover the expenses of the Iraqi pilgrims. It is clear that Saddam [Hussein, President of Iraq] is looking for an excuse.

In the afternoon, I swam in the sea. The weather and water were pleasant. At night, my brother Mahmoud and his family, along with his two sons-in-law, came. They are staying at the hotel.