Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – October 25, 1993

It has started snowing in Almaty since last night and the weather is cold. In the morning, we walked around the streets of the hotel and I completed recording my memories. At nine o'clock in the morning, we went to [Panfilaf Square], the place of martyrs of the Second World War, and with an official ceremony, a wreath was laid. They said that a whole Kazakh army participated in the defense of Moscow, all of whom were martyred, and only twenty-eight people survived, and this monument was built as a memorial to them.

Today at noon, we visited the exhibition of Iranian goods; One hundred and fifty stalls, all of whom were satisfied with sales. They have pre-sold a large amount of goods. Their problem is in returning money from Kazakhstan. They are not allowed to withdraw foreign currency and it is mostly done through the purchase of goods. It is not a good way. They usually found goods for themselves that are more expensive in Iran; Such as shoes, leather, refrigerators, paper cars, detergents and materials

Photo of Central Asia

Photo of Central Asia

chemical They asked us to solve the money issue.

Then we went to the presidential palace. First, we held negotiations with the presence of the foreign ministers regarding Afghanistan, Tajikistan, bilateral relations, non-interference in their internal affairs through religious affairs, and the possibility of commercial exchanges. Then, in the meeting of official negotiations, with the presence of other members of the board and journalists, the same issues of private negotiations were repeated.

Then, in the presence of journalists, the agreements were signed and we had a joint press interview. We came to the residence. After prayer, lunch and a little rest, we moved to the nearby heights to visit the ice skating rink. Two ice hockey teams were competing. They had prepared a place the size of a football field with ice. The attendant there explained. There was a dam higher than that which regulates the water of Almaty river. They claimed that they had done the main work of the dam by explosion, but they did not have a convincing explanation.

From there we went to the Academy of Basic Sciences. The head of the academy explained that it has ten thousand members, half of whom are scientists, and their library has more than six million books. He said that after independence, their material condition was ruined and their salaries were reduced, and before independence, the salaries of scientists were more than others and today they are less. There was a ceremony in the amphitheater. The president and one of the researchers gave a speech and gave gifts. I also spoke. Then we visited the library repository; It didn't seem to me that he had six million books.

From there we went to the Almaty Grand Mosque. [Mr. Rabtik Bin Nisan Bai], the Grand Mufti of Kazakhstan and a group of students. We sat for a while. He and I talked. He said that they have four mosques and hundreds of students inside and outside. We returned to the residence.

Mr. Nazarbayev's head came to the residence. We signed two documents together and had a private dinner at the residence with the presence of several companions. Again, we had long and comprehensive negotiations about cooperation. It was decided that he would pursue the issue [legal regime] of the Caspian Sea, and we would pursue the issue of Afghanistan.

Due to the early cold and heavy snow in northern Kazakhstan, we decided to cancel the trip to other cities and instead go to Oktau port in the north of the Caspian Sea on the way to Azerbaijan. After our meeting, we had a meeting about Azerbaijan. We negotiated and Alif has high expectations from us in the conflict with Armenians. Then I warned Mr. Shamsayi about controlling travel news and preparing a special report.