Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – October 24, 1996

I updated the office work until eight o'clock in the morning. Then we went to the Museum of Treasures of the Islamic Era. I visited different parts of the new foundation museum and it was opened. I met with the ministers of culture of Türkiye, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan. They have come for the ECO [Economic Cooperation Organization] summit. At the opening ceremony, after listening to Mr. [Mustafa] Mirslim, [Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance], I spoke about the importance of Islamic culture and history and the cultural cooperation of ECO.

I returned to my office. [Mr. Narayana], Vice President of India came. Ceremonial negotiations and talking about the influence of Iranian culture and literature in India and the need for more cooperation. His wife also met Eft in the same building. I signed the marriage contract for the daughter of Mr. [Syed Hossein] Mousavian, our ambassador in Germany. Chastity also participated. Mr. Mousavian gave a report on the state of our relations with Germany; He is optimistic about the future.

[Mr. Hossein Mahluji], the Minister of Mines and Metals and the deputies came. They gave a report on the steel industry development plan. With approved plans and foreign currency provision, we will have four million tons of extra production; with a currency cost of 600 million dollars.

In the evening, in the meeting of the government board, the poverty alleviation bill was discussed and we made good progress. In the afternoon, I had a radio and television interview to report on my trip to Ardabil. Mr. Dr. Velayati, [Minister of Foreign Affairs], reported on his trip to Turkey to participate in the meeting of the Islamic countries of Iran, Turkey, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Indonesia, Nigeria and Egypt, which was started at the suggestion of Mr. [Najmuddin] Erbakan, [Prime Minister of Turkey] and brought Erbakan's thanks for Iran's support.