Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – May 7, 2003

[Mr. Takekazu Kawamura], the new ambassador of Japan arrived.  We discussed the development of cooperation and the issue of Palestine and the Additional [Protocol] 93+2 of the International Atomic Energy Agency.  They expect Iran to sign it and cooperate with the Middle East peace plan. I said, if others fulfill their duties in front of Iran, they should expect to sign it, and if the rights of the Palestinian people are not respected, peace will not be achieved, and America cannot be trusted because of its cooperation with hypocritical terrorists.
Mr. [Saadullah] Roosta, the representative of [Sarostan] Shiraz came.  He insisted that I be ready for the upcoming presidential elections and said that a group of representatives have such an opinion in private meetings;  I gave the same answer as usual.  He criticizes the government's lack of attention to agriculture and the integration of jihad formation.
[Mr. Nuruddin Mojtahedzadeh], the grandson of late Ayatollah [Syed Ali Mousavi] Behbahani came from Ahvaz and asked for help for the development of their seminary.  They have problems with the special clerical court and are unhappy with the Arabs' move.
In the evening, in the leadership office, we had the second meeting related to nuclear issues and the additional [protocol] 2+93.  Finally, it was decided that nothing should be said about accepting or rejecting it, and a group would investigate and act on how to get rid of it.
The appointment of "Paul Bremer" as the ruler of Iraq by George Bush, [President of the United States], has been interpreted as a sign of America's confusion and lack of planning regarding Iraq, and George Galloway, a member of the [Commons] Parliament of England, is also in the attention of political circles because of his opposition to the war and the interpretation of the dog and the dog's tail for George Bush and [Tony] Blair.
Yesterday's demonstration of Afghan intellectuals and students in Kabul and protesting the lack of serious action in the reconstruction of the country and ensuring security and the continued presence of foreign troops in the country is considered important and significant. 
It is said that Mahmoud Abbas, Abu Mazen, who became the Prime Minister of the [Self-Governing State] of Palestine under the pressure of Israel and America, is originally a Baha'i from Iran who previously went to Israel. 
The issue of the presence of [Mr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad], the new mayor of Tehran, in the meeting of the government board is also important.  In the government, the construction was approved, due to the importance of the issues of the city of Tehran, the mayor of Tehran should participate in the government meeting to coordinate and inform about the policies, and it has continued until now, but with the election of Mr. Ahmadinejad, who is one of the prominent figures of the right movement, the government has announced that he cannot participate in the [board meetings] of the government.