Memories of Akbar Hashemi - December 11, 1999 - The Central Council of the Executives of Construction Party Emphasized that I Should Overcome My Doubts and Register for the Elections

Full Text of the Daily Note:

The Central Council of the Executives of Construction Party emphasized that I should overcome my doubts and register for the elections.

The Expediency Council held a meeting. The Guardian Council's opinion rejecting the parliament's proposal regarding the tribal councils was confirmed, and the parliament's ratification of judicial assistance agreements with Russia and Azerbaijan was approved; this is significant as these contracts are being established for the first time since the revolution, despite objections from the Guardian Council.

In the afternoon, I went to the opening of the seventh Quran exhibition at the center of the Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults. Mr. Ataollah Mohajerani, the Minister of Culture and Islamic Guidance, and Ahmad Masjed-Jamei, the Deputy Minister and Cultural Deputy of the Ministry of Guidance, reported on the event, and I also gave a speech.

For Iftar, members of the Central Council of the Executives of Construction Party were my guests. Mr. Karbaschi, who is currently on leave, also attended. They provided a report on the party's progress and emphasized that I should overcome my doubts and register for the elections and also hold a press conference. They requested that I follow up on Mr. Karbaschi's release. I also stressed to Dr. Mohammad Ali Najafi, the head of the Plan and Budget Organization, the need to increase the budget allocations for the Expediency Council and the Strategic Research Center.

In foreign reports, the European Union's approval for Turkey to apply for EU membership is noteworthy; however, there is still a long way to go before membership is ratified. They have imposed strict conditions, which will create difficulties for Turkey.