Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi - June 1, 2000 - Report from Mohammad Hashemi on Government Changes

Meeting with Mohammad Fallah and Mahmoud Golzari for consultations on enhancing prevention efforts within the Anti-Narcotics Headquarters.

Meeting with Sheikh Javad Fazel Lankarani along with Abbas Maleki, conveying a message from Ayatollah Fazel Lankarani.

Report from Mohammad Hashemi on government changes.

Meeting with the officials of the student publication of the Islamic Azad University, along with university officials.

Family discussions among the Hashemi family.

Mr. [Mohammad] Fallah, head of the Anti-Narcotics Headquarters, and Mr. [Mahmoud] Golzari, a psychologist and head of research for the headquarters, came. They reported the lack of success in combating drug abuse despite strict measures and proposed focusing more on prevention through education and outreach. I told them to submit their plan to the [Expediency Discernment Council].

Mr. Javad Fazel, son of Ayatollah [Mohammad] Fazel Lankarani, came along with Mr. Abbas Maleki to convey a message from Ayatollah Fazel, expressing gratitude for my long-standing service to the revolution and my decision to withdraw from the parliament. They mentioned that the night before the announcement of my withdrawal, Ayatollah Fazel was walking in the courtyard, saying it would be good if Mr. Hashemi withdrew, as this parliament is not a suitable place for him. He was pleased after hearing the news. They also mentioned that Ayatollah Fazel recently increased the stipends, now comparable to the stipends of the leadership and Ayatollah [Seyed Ali] Sistani, with monthly expenses around 300 million tomans. I advised them to ensure the seminary addresses the need to train imams and meet the demand for about 30,000 mosques lacking an imam.

My brother Mohammad [Deputy Executive Director of the President] came and said that Mr. Khatami will soon reshuffle the cabinet. Likely changes include the ministers of [Economic and] Finance, Agriculture, and the heads of the Planning and Budget Organization and the [Organization of] Administrative and Recruitment Affairs, and possibly the [Ministry of Culture and] Islamic Guidance. In the afternoon, the heads of student publications from the Islamic Azad University came. Mr. [Abdollah] Jasbi [President of the Islamic Azad University] and Mr. Zamani [Secretary of the Student Publication Managers' Conference] reported that they have around 250 publications. Awards were given to the top participants, and I delivered an extensive speech on the necessary points for managing these publications.

In the evening, the family gathered. Discussions centered around the internal conflicts within the Second of Khordad Front, which surfaced during the elections for the parliamentary leadership. The crisis in Fiji continues, a country with a population of about 800,000, roughly half of whom are of Indian descent, and the other half are indigenous. The Indians hold power. Several weeks ago, an armed group took the Prime Minister and several ministers hostage in the parliament, demanding their resignation. Then, the naval commander staged a coup, and the hostages are still not freed. The war between Ethiopia and Eritrea continues with Ethiopia's dominance. Israel announced it will not withdraw from the Shebaa Farms, an area covering 25 square kilometers. The Lebanese Resistance says it will continue its fight until Israel leaves the Shebaa Farms.