Akbar Hashemi's Memoirs - February 10, 2000 - Amirkabir University Denies Allegations by the Office for Strengthening Unity Regarding the Cancellation of the Conference

• Publication of a Photo of Hashemi with His Grandson by the Kargozaran Party as Part of Their Election Campaign
• Amirkabir University Denies Allegations Made by the Office for Strengthening Unity Regarding the Cancellation of the Conference
• Report by Sheikh Mohammad Reza Noori Shahrudi on the Success of the Iranian Exhibition in Jeddah

Amirkabir University has strongly denied the claims made by the Office for Strengthening Unity about the cancellation of the conference. / The beginning of the election campaign for the Sixth Parliamentary Elections.

It is 9:30 p.m., and the sound of people in Tehran shouting "Allahu Akbar" from their rooftops in the cold night air, [in celebration of the anniversary of the Islamic Revolution], can be heard. The start of the 22nd year of the revolution is remarkable. From 10:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., I was in the Koushk office.

The election campaign for the [Sixth Parliamentary Elections] began today. The Kargozaran [Sazandegi] Party, in its campaign material distributed to the media, printed a large photo of me standing next to Foad [son of Mehdi], leaning against a tree in the courtyard of my house without a turban. The photo seems to have been taken by Mr. [Mohammad] Fernoud last year.

Amirkabir University has strongly denied the allegations made by the Office for Strengthening Unity regarding the cancellation of the conference. Fatemeh brought a sample of the election brochures from the Moderation and Development Party for consultation; it was not impressive. Mr. [Mohammad Reza] Noori [Shahrudi, Iran's ambassador to Saudi Arabia], reported from Saudi Arabia that Iran's exhibition in Jeddah is highly successful and mentioned that efforts have been made to facilitate the travel of athletes to Mecca and Medina.

Israel's attacks on Lebanon continue, and it has announced that if Hezbollah launches rocket attacks on northern Israel, it will set Lebanon ablaze. For the past two or three days, the cities in northern Israel have been on high alert, and people are taking refuge in shelters out of fear of Hezbollah's Katyusha rockets. Israel has openly blamed Iran and Syria for Hezbollah's actions. The Afghan hijacking incident in England came to an end today, with the hijackers surrendering without any announcement regarding their demands.