Akbar Hashemi’s Memoirs – February 18, 2003

The leadership criticized the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the President regarding the proposal to Iraq.  Saddam's answer to Mr. Khatami is seen as arrogant and stubborn that he did not give any concessions.  They also said about the national nomination of religious people in the council elections, they have told Mr. Karroubi and the government of their definite opinion of opposition.  They do not agree on inviting the officials of the institutions under the leadership to the experts' meeting to give explanations and answer questions.

Full text of the newspaper:

In the morning, we went from home to Tehran University for the opening of the [biennial] Nahjul Balagha Festival.  It has been organized by the institution of leadership representation in universities.  First, I visited the exhibition of the works of the first festival competitions;  It was not important.  In the gathering of professors and students in Allameh Amini Hall, after the report of Mr. [Mohammed Ali] Vakili, the secretary of the festival, and Mr. [Mohsen] Qomi, the representative of the institution [Wali Fiqh in universities], I gave a speech about the personality of Imam Ali (AS) and Nahj al-Balagha and I suggested that the issues related to the obscure parts of the life of Hazrat Ali (AS), such as his childhood, stay in Mecca,  They should include living at home and the dignity of Imam's sayings in the theses and treatises of students.  
I went to my office.  Mr. [Reza] Amrollahi, [former head of the Atomic Energy Organization] came. He said, the announcement of progress in nuclear industries by [Mr. Seyyed Mohammad Khatami], the president, was not a right thing.  He suggested that we participate in the global nuclear fusion technology program Iter and wanted me to go to Ardabil to visit drilling for geothermal energy.  
In the evening, a group of Basij students who have excelled in the competitions came. Mr. [Hassan] Bakhtiari, [President of Iran's Basij Student Organization] reported that tens of thousands of students across the country, whose GPA is 19 or higher, participated in the [Basij Students Science Festival] and finally 11 people were distinguished in the finals.  I spoke to them about the importance of knowledge, faith and sacrifice.  
I had a meeting with the leadership at night.  They criticized the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the President regarding the proposal to Iraq.  Saddam [Hussein]'s answer to Mr. Khatami, they consider [the President] arrogant and stubborn that he did not give any concessions.  Regarding the national nomination of religious people in the council elections, they said that they have expressed their definite opinion of opposition to [Mr. Mahdi Karroubi], the speaker of the parliament and the government.  Regarding the invitation of the officials of the institutions under the leadership to the meeting of experts, they do not agree to give explanations and answer questions.  We had a long discussion about the situation in Iraq and the possibility of war.  Regarding the proposal of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs based on the acceptance of the additional [protocol] 93+2 of nuclear energy, their opinion is that they should already fulfill their commitment regarding the assistance to the transfer of technology for peaceful purposes.  
In South Korea, 130 people have been killed as a result of a subway car catching fire in a tunnel and an underground station.