Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – May 10, 2003

In the session of the Assembly [Determining the expediency of the system], we approved the opinion of the Assembly regarding the contract with the Assembly of Asian and African countries to establish an international arbitration center in Iran;  The Guardian Council had taken several insignificant forms.  The resolution of the parliament regarding handing over the Shahid Beheshti Hospital in Qom to the government was discussed, but it remained unfinished and a special commission was established to review the general policies [to fight against] narcotics. 
In the afternoon, we had a meeting with Mr. [Abbas Waez] Tabasi, [Mohammed] Yazdi, [Qorban Ali] Dori [Najafabadi], [Ali Akbar] Natiq [Nuri] and [Mohammed Ali] Mohadi [Kermani].  There was a discussion about the threats of the United States, the extremism of the cooperatives and the rejection of the President's Powers Bill by the Guardian Council and the situation in Iraq.  The audience demanded that I accept the presidency of the future.
In the evening, the members of the Tehran city council came. They gave a report on the problems of Tehran and the plans of the council, and they complained to the Ministry of Interior for the delay in giving the verdict of their elected mayor, Mr. [Mahmoud] Ahmadinejad, and to the government for opposing the presence of the mayor in the meeting of the government board.  They called the decision of the High Council of Urban Development regarding density as a nuisance to Tehran.  I also reminded municipalities about traffic and air pollution and green space, completing half-finished projects, building subways and parking lots around subway stations, collecting cars from the streets, and dealing with the causes of people's dissatisfaction.  They are a motivated group, but they have many problems.
Ali Akhavizadeh [Representative of Rafsanjan] came.  He gave a description of the activities and extremism in the parliament and informed him that Mr. Seyed Ahmad Khatami, the expert [parliament] representative from Kerman, told him that the [construction] agents [party] are trying to prepare me to accept the presidency and the community of teachers [Qom seminary] is insisting on this.  The discussion of newspapers about the investigation of radio and television continues.
Mr. [Syed Mohammad Baqir] Hakim entered Iraq today from Shalamcheh border and the people of Basra gave him a warm welcome and a huge gathering at the Basra Stadium, with a good speech by him.  Surely, the attackers will be upset by this reception and learn a lesson.  We should oppose the rule of foreigners and want the future of Iraq with this Islamic nation.  A US military helicopter crashed in Iraq and three people were killed.  Frequent news emphasizes the continuation of America's decision to disarm the Mojahedin Khalq [Mojahedin Khalq Organization].
In Kabul, a large demonstration of students against America was held and it angered America.  An Ilyushin plane had an accident in Congo, and when the rear door opened, 140 of its 200 passengers disappeared.