Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi - September 12, 2001 - Convening of the Assembly of Experts Meeting

Convening of the Assembly of Experts Meeting

Postponement of the Trip of Admiral Ali Shamkhani, Minister of Defense, to Russia Due to Overlap with Ariel Sharon's Visit

Full Text of the Daily Memo:

In the morning and afternoon, the Assembly of Experts held a meeting at the Zahra Hosseiniyeh. Part of the time was spent on speeches and part on approving the internal regulations. The atmosphere of discussions is calmer compared to the previous meeting, and progress in approving the regulations is better. It was planned to have a non-public and informal session at the end of last year for important issues of the revolution, but the presidency did not act, and some representatives are complaining.

Pressure on Israel and the United States at the Durban [Anti-Racism] Conference is intense. This afternoon, both countries left the conference in protest, and overall, international pressure against Israel is increasing due to the violence against Palestinians. Even anti-Zionist Jewish groups in America are protesting against the actions of the Zionists by attending the conference. Last night, four bombs exploded in the Jewish quarter of Jerusalem, injuring several Israelis, and today Israel carried out numerous helicopter and artillery attacks against the Palestinians.

Due to the overlap of the trip of Mr. Ali Shamkhani, Iran's Minister of Defense, and Ariel Sharon, the Prime Minister of Israel, to Russia, the Iranian Minister of Defense's trip has been postponed.