Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi - December 30, 2002

Mohsen explained about Metro Line 1 from Mirdamad to Tajrish Square. He complained about the Leader's Office regarding the prevention of the operation of the Shahid Hemmat Metro Station [which is located in the Abbas Abad lands within the Imam Khomeini complex affiliated with the Leader's Office].

Full text of the daily diary: I stayed at home, recovering from yesterday's fatigue and also doing some reading. Mr. Mahmoud Salari came. He explained about a farming project near the desert, the existence of plenty of water and land, the poverty of the people, and the Agricultural Bank's strictness in granting loans.

Mohsen [Chairman of the Board and CEO of the Metro Company] came for a wellness visit and explained about Metro Line [One] from Mirdamad to Tajrish Square. The groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for tomorrow. He complained about the Leader's Office regarding the prevention of the operation of the Shahid Hemmat Metro Station [which is located in the Abbas Abad lands within the Imam Khomeini complex affiliated with the Leader's Office]. He also conveyed the grievance of Mr. [Abdullah] Nouri [former Minister of Interior] regarding him being referred to as a 'Phalangist' in an interview with a magazine.

American officials have spoken about the possibility of Iraq's disintegration, and also the difficulty of resolving the North Korean issue, which decided to continue its nuclear program following the U.S. refusal to fulfill its 1994 agreement commitments and asked the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) officials to leave North Korea, causing concern for regional countries [South Korea and Japan].

In Yemen, south of Sana'a, three American doctors were killed by machine-gun fire in a hospital, and one person was injured; the Yemeni government announced that it had arrested the killer. Switzerland has officially replied to the European Union that it is willing to give up the banking secrecy system; through this, billions of dollars are attracted to Swiss banks annually.

With the holding of the closed-door trial of Mr. [Abbas] Abdi, the debate over the [Islamic Iran] Participation Front party continues.

Some Indian newspapers have not stopped criticizing the statements and positions of Mr. Khatami [the President] in Pakistan regarding Kashmir, forcing the Iranian embassy in India to issue an explanatory statement.

Discussions regarding the incidents in Ahvaz and Mazandaran continue; in the Alavi neighborhood of Ahvaz, which is Arab-populated, the Law Enforcement Force took action to collect CDs of vulgar films, clashed with youths, and detained a group. In Sari, a group of Hezbollahis prevented [Rajabali] Mazrouei [Representative of Isfahan] from delivering a speech, and a clash ensued.