Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani's Diary - June 20, 1999Friday Prayer and a strong speech against the imperialist news network, as narrated by Hashemi.

Friday Prayer and a strong speech against the imperialist news network, as narrated by Hashemi.

Meeting with the President of Kyrgyzstan

Meeting with the President of Turkmenistan

Mohammad Reza Aref's announcement to accept the presidency of the Management and Planning Organization, which was formed by merging the two organizations of Planning and Budget and Administrative and Employment of the country, and later this experience and similar experience of reducing them to the Vice President's Staff was not fruitful.

Until 11:30 AM, I was studying at home. I went to Tehran University for Friday prayers. I gave a sermon on ethics and another on the events of the week. I attacked the imperialist news mafia network. I went to my office for lunch and rest. Due to the evening's programs, unlike other Fridays, I did not return home.

At 6:30 PM, [Mr. Askar Akaev], the President of Kyrgyzstan, and his entourage arrived. They spoke about cooperation and my role in establishing relations and inviting them to the [Economic Cooperation Organization] ECO and the importance of my work in [ordering] the construction of the Mashhad-Sarakhs railway. He emphasized the revival of the Silk Road and peace in Tajikistan and said that they want to extend their railway to Kashgar, China. He invited me to visit his country.

Then, Mr. [Saparmurat] Niyazov, the President of Turkmenistan, arrived. The conversation was friendly and a reminder of past cooperation and my role. We discussed the purchase of gas and gas pipelines, the legal regime of the Caspian Sea, and many other issues. He said that our relations with [Vladimir] Putin, [the President of Russia], are better than with [Boris] Yeltsin. He spoke about the growth of wheat and cotton production and quitting smoking. He invited me to their Independence Day anniversary ceremony.

Dr. [Mohammad Reza] Aref, [Minister of Posts and Telegraphs], who is also a minister accompanying Mr. Askar Akaev, also came and talked about telecommunications plans and the possibility of going to the Planning and Budget Organization.