Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – May 12, 1997

We had breakfast with Mohsen and Kazem [Mar'ashi]. To meet with Mr. Niyazov, we went to the new Presidential Palace. First we toured the palace. The French built it for 73 million dollars, which is very expensive. Then we talked for a while. He said I am the first president to be received in this palace. Regarding the legal regime of the Caspian Sea, it was agreed that for now we would adhere to the same proposal of a 45-mile share for the coasts. I asked him not to exceed this in the agreements.

Then, for the ceremony granting Turkmen citizenship to me and presenting the Makhtum Qoli Award for my efforts to develop relations and regional security, we went together to the Youth Palace Center. Mr. Niyazov and I spoke. I gave an account of Iran's progress and praised Turkmenistan's development program. A student and a professor also spoke in Persian. It was an enthusiastic meeting.

From there we went to the airport, for the trip to Birjand and to attend to the situation of the earthquake victims. Messrs. [Hamid] Mirzadeh, [Head of the Plan and Budget Organization], Mohsen [Hashemi, Head of the President's Office], and [Akbar] Torkan, [Minister of Roads and Transportation], were also with us. In Birjand there was an official welcome. We immediately flew by helicopters toward the earthquake-stricken areas around Qaen. Mr. [Rasoul] Zargar, the head of the Disaster Headquarters, gave a report. 157 villages have been destroyed and they have a population of 11 thousand households. So far 1,511 dead have been identified, and probably another 200 will be added.

We landed in [the village of] Hajiabad. We visited the different parts of the destruction. In the year 58 [1979] too this region had seen an earthquake, and the rebuilt buildings have also been destroyed in some cases. We greeted the people. I spoke among them. I promised reconstruction and expressed appreciation for the people's patience and calm. By car we went to the village of Dowlatabad. I greeted and visited. Then we went to the village of Esfeden. We sat in a tent. In the alleys and the ruins I greeted the people. At the enthusiastic gathering of the people, after the explanations of Mr. [Mousa] Qorbani, the representative of Qaen, I spoke.

Then we flew by helicopter. From above we saw a large number of destroyed villages. The Ardarkul Mosque, and in some places not a single building remained. The destruction around Birjand is less. In Birjand, from Garmak, which is near the Afghan border. We landed in the village of Avaz, which is large and whose people are Sunni. We visited the destruction and the tents. After the interview with the broadcasting organization, among the people, after hearing the welcome of the village's cleric, I gave a speech of condolence.

We flew to Birjand Airport. At the airport pavilion, Mr. [Abdollah] Kupaei, the Governor-General [of Khorasan], and [Rasoul] Zargar, the [Development] Deputy of the Minister of Interior, gave reports and raised the requests. I too expressed appreciation for the good work that has been done and for the fact that the relief measures have been carried out quickly. The temporary shelter tents and food and the treatment of the injured and the burial of the bodies and the feeding of the livestock have been completed. We promised that the reconstruction credits would be provided soon and I asked that the new buildings be built earthquake-resistant.

At six-thirty we returned to Ashgabat. At eight at night we reached our embassy. After the prayer and dinner and greeting the staff and their families, we went to the residence. On the way, our ambassador gave explanations about the projects being implemented by Iranians in Turkmenistan and asked me to ask Niyazov to give more work to Iranian contractors and said that here everything progresses with bribes and recommendations.

Then Dr. Velayati and the deputies came. Regarding the ECO summit, they had proposals on the agenda items, including the gas and oil pipelines and also the legal regime of the Caspian Sea. Then I listened to the campaign speech of Mr. [Mohammad Mohammadi] Reyshahri, [candidate in the presidential election], which was broadcast on Iran's television and can be received by satellite. It had no attractive content.

Turkmenistan's television, last night and yesterday, devoted most of its program to my programs, and tonight it is Mr. [Suleyman] Demirel's, the President of Turkey's, program. Iran's Qaenat earthquake has wide coverage in the Western media, and some Western countries that currently have strained relations with us are also sending aid. Yesterday in the region, we also saw the presence of Doctors Without Borders.