Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – October 22, 2003

First of all, we went to visit Shahcheragh. Mr. Seyyed Mohammad Mahdi Dastghib, curator of the shrine, complained about the authorities' lack of cooperation.

We visited the Shiraz subway project. The person in charge of the project, Mr. [Farjullah] Rajabi, gave a report and asked the government to help the project more. For now, the [Shiraz] municipality should pay half of the expenses. They expect the year 2016 to end. They thanked for the establishment of metro industry in Iran. I also spoke briefly

For the wheat festival program, we went to the governorate [of Fars] and visited the agricultural products exhibition of the province; It is interesting. In the meeting, interesting hymns were performed. The reports of Mr. [Mohammed Hossein] Shariatmadar, deputy [agriculture] of the Ministry of Jihad Agriculture, [Abdul Karim] Razavi, the head of the [Jihad Organization] of the province, and Mowahed, [responsible for the area] of the Faqih representative [in the Fars Jihad Organization] were presented, which mainly identified construction policies as the main factor of agricultural growth.

I gave the [example] farmers awards and gave an extended speech about the importance of agricultural development and food self-sufficiency.  The head of [Jihad organization] of the province's agriculture read a poem about the country's construction plans.

In his speech, Mr. Shariatmadar said that in 1921, the American Congress passed a law asking the government to strengthen agriculture, even if it destroys the agriculture of other countries. Based on this speech, I called this act criminal. Especially as he said, a few years after that, the decline of Iran's agriculture began in 1338

We were the guest of [Mr. Mohammad Ibrahim Ansarilari], the governor. There were also provincial managers. Managers presented their demands. [Mr. Majid Irshad Langroudi], the president of Shiraz University, requested to give a speech at the university and help to provide currency for the purchase of tunnel wind from Russia and the establishment of the Natural Science Museum. [Sardar Ahmad Alirezabigi], the commander of Najai province [Fars], complained about the unfair difference in the salaries of the police forces and the IRGC personnel.

In the evening, we went to the two areas of Dashtkouh and Dariemeh to visit the project of Mr. [Mohyeddin] Haeri [Shirazi], Imam Juma'a, to visit the project "Prosperity in Leisure". In total, about 500 hectares and two thousand plots have been planted with olive trees and other fruits. Most of it has been assigned to individuals, and [this assignment] is opposed and approved by others. At five o'clock in the afternoon, with the escort of the officials and the interview, the trip ended and we returned to Tehran.

The reflection of Iran's agreement with the Europeans has been welcomed by foreign countries and is mostly positive inside, but Kayhan newspaper and Jamhori-e-Islami have opposed it and some of the second Khordadis have said that opportunities have been lost due to the delay in the agreement.