Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi - February 13, 2000 Meeting with Election-Related Youth from the Executives Party

Meeting with Jalal Talabani along with a group of leaders and political factions aligned with him.

Meeting with representatives from various sectors of fisheries.

Meeting with Abbasali Vakili, the then head of the Freed Prisoners Affairs Headquarters.

Election-related meeting with youth affiliated with the Executives Party.

Election-related meeting with Abotaleb Shalchian along with the Central Council of the Islamic Society of Employees.

Mr. Jalal Talabani, [leader of the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan], came with a group of leaders from various Iraqi opposition factions, including Kurds, Arabs, Turkmen, socialists, communists, Shia, and Sunni. All of them made brief remarks. They congratulated on the anniversary of the revolution and praised the impact of the Islamic Revolution in the Muslim world and the awakening of the oppressed globally. They expressed gratitude for Iran's support. I also made a brief statement about the necessity of unity among Iraqi opposition groups and reaching an agreement on a common plan. They came for the celebrations of the Ten-Day Dawn.

A group of representatives from various fisheries sectors came from the private sector. They provided a report on their work situation and expressed gratitude for the establishment of shrimp industries as well as the construction of ports and fishing equipment, discussing their issues and the lack of attention to their work. I spoke to them and expressed hope that due to the importance of fisheries, the system would provide more support in the future.

Mr. [Abbasali] Vakili, head of the Freed Prisoners Affairs Headquarters, came and spoke about the services of the headquarters, conveying gratitude from his colleagues and freed prisoners, and suggested assistance in election propaganda. I said it wasn't necessary. In the evening, a group of young members or supporters of the Executives Party came. They raised questions, leading to discussions on cultural, political, and economic issues; they are gradually coming into conflict with leftist forces.

The Central Council of the Islamic Society of Employees came. Mr. [Abotaleb] Shalchian reported on the livelihood issues faced by employees, discrimination in salaries, and exclusionary and factional behaviors in the workplace. I stated that all three issues are on the agenda as general policies of the system at the Expediency Discernment Council.

In global reports, limited clashes continue in Lebanon, and the UK Parliament has dissolved the Northern Ireland Parliament and revoked its independence, conditioned on handing over weapons from the Irish Army. In Israel, financial scandals involving the President and Prime Minister are drawing media attention. The President of Indonesia is facing military challenges upon returning from his foreign trip; generals did not participate in his welcome ceremony as he refuses to resign.