Memories of Akbar Hashemi - February 11, 2002 - Participation in the Anniversary Rally of the Revolution and Hashemi's Account of Mohammad Khatami's Statements at the Ceremony

Participation in the Anniversary Rally of the Revolution and Hashemi's Account of Mohammad Khatami's Statements at the Ceremony

Full Text of the Daily Journal:

I went to participate in the February 11 rally on Azadi Street with my security guards. I walked about five hundred meters among the people and conducted two interviews. The people expressed warm emotions. The presence of the crowd was large and dense, better than in previous years. Due to the recent statements by [George] Bush, the [President of the United States], the slogans were more anti-American and anti-Bush. Mr. [Mohammad] Khatami's statements at the ceremony were moderate. Perhaps they were less than what the audience expected, but it is good to consider the tense conditions prevailing in the country and to manage the situation well.

The announcement of the closure of Mr. [Gulbuddin] Hekmatyar's party offices in Iran has had a wide reflection in domestic and foreign media, and some view it as a reactive move against the threat from the United States. Hekmatyar has explicitly opposed the presence of foreign forces in Afghanistan and has promised to soon initiate a war against them.

In the evening, the children went to the airport to welcome Efat, who is returning from Umrah.