Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – October 31, 1992

Mr. [Hasan] Ghafouri Fard, [the head of the physical education organization] came. He said about the credit problems, the harming of the public media, the non-cooperation of the radio and television, and the harassment of the Islamic Association, which has made many criticisms and I have asked them; I consoled him.

Timsar [Mansour] Sattari, [Commander of the Air Force] came. He called for more involvement in the control of country's planes and more use of radar, control and guidance facilities, which are stagnant in peacetime. He expressed his readiness to build airports, especially Imam Khomeini Airport. I told the Minister of Roads and Transport to cooperate.

[Mr. Giorgio Giacomelli], Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations and responsible for the International Narcotics Control Program came. He praised Iran's efforts in fighting drug trafficking. He has visited the eastern borders. I encouraged him and said that some international centers, including the Human Rights Commission and Amnesty International, are actually serving the drug traffickers by questioning Iran's struggles, and perhaps it is the desire of the arrogant powers to continue the opium war. I emphasized the necessity of preventing poppy planting in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Dr. Hashemi [Golpaygani] came in 1372 for the order of the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution and to demand more credits. Dr. [Hasan] Habibi, [First Vice President] came for current affairs and brought the research plan to be included in the second program.

At half past four, we went to the [Mehrabad] square to welcome [Mr. Nursultan Nazarbayev], the President of Kazakhstan. They arrived on time. After the official ceremony and TV interview, we went to Saad Abad residence together. We talked a lot on the way. He said that Ankara did not give in to Türkiye's demand, which was one-sided, and that it has taken their toll. They wanted to issue a statement on Pan-Turkism and Big Brother. He said that about 20 percent of their production has decreased after independence and they have the problem of expertise, management, people's high expectations and people's freedom.

I came home in the evening. I prayed and wrote memories. I read the draft of the joint statement that was prepared and then I went to Saad Abad Companions building for negotiation and dinner. Before the official negotiations, we had private negotiations. He wanted to know the reason why some governments are afraid of us. I said that they are spreading propaganda against us because of our opposition to Western domination in the region and their severance from Iran.

He is satisfied with China's policy of gradual liberalization and they themselves are doing the same. He was critical of [Mikhail] Gorbachev who, before the economic reforms, individually emphasized freedom and democracy, which disrupted the order and discipline in the Soviet, which could not be put back together. He believes that Gorbachev has no popular base at all. He criticized [Boris] Yeltsin, [President of Russia], who gave economic freedom in an extreme manner and without preparation, with the persuasion of the Westerners, and now it has reached a dead end and there is no proper alternative. They are in trouble, and their production has decreased by 50%, and Russia's economic problems are spreading to other Commonwealth countries through the ruble, and because of their extremely mixed economy, they cannot easily print their own national currency.

At the dinner table, the negotiations and talks were mostly about the cooperation between the two countries, and the political, oil, road and transport, cultural and economic committees were supposed to prepare the agreements. The meeting was friendly and understanding. It was decided to cooperate on the Caspian Sea axis and the Asian Conference. He wanted to get closer with Russia.

Private conversation continued at the dinner table. They decided to travel to Mashhad. He wants to pretend to be religious and Islamic. They did not request to meet with the leader, which we told them to do.