Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – March 4, 1996

[Mr. Valitan Kovalev], the Minister of Justice of Russia came. The negotiations were ceremonial. I asked a lot of questions about the situation in Russia and the possibilities of future elections, and they talked about further cooperation and signing a legal agreement. Mr. [Manochehr] Mutaki, our ambassador in Japan, came. He talked about the American pressure on Japan in opposing cooperation with Iran - which caused the dam loan to stagnate - and the new Japanese government being more positive towards Iran and asked me to send a special representative to strengthen relations. He thanked me for my help in building the Bandargaz pier.

Mr. [Jalil] Bisharti, the head of the deprived areas [presidential institution] office, came. He reported the work and complained to the parliament for reducing his credits. In the evening, the President of Afghanistan came for the second round of negotiations and we went to the airport together. We had an interview and saw off.

He went to Mashhad to be in Mashhad tomorrow and to go to Turkmenistan the day after tomorrow.

Mr. [Aladdin] Borujerdi informed that the flour we had ordered did not reach Turkmenistan on time; They have a shortage of bread and there have been demonstrations. I told Mr. [Yahya] Al-Ishaq, [Minister of Commerce], to follow up immediately. On the way back, Mr. Dr. [Alireza] Marandi, [Minister of Health, Treatment and Medical Education] came with me and told me about the problems of implementing public health insurance and asked for a solution. The Economic Council had a meeting. It lasted until nine o'clock at night. We had many approvals.