Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi - June 16, 2000 - Ali Larijani’s Account to Hashemi of Ayatollah Khamenei’s Private Message to Sheikh Mehdi Karroubi and Behzad Nabavi through Seyed Ali Asghar Hejazi Regarding the Sixth Parliament's Failure to Address Press Law R

Ali Larijani’s Account to Hashemi of Ayatollah Khamenei’s Private Message to Sheikh Mehdi Karroubi and Behzad Nabavi through Seyed Ali Asghar Hejazi Regarding the Sixth Parliament's Failure to Address Press Law Reform
Continuation of Hashemi’s Travel and Visits in Northern Iran  

Participation in the closing ceremony of the provincial media production festival  

Report from the Gilan Governor on the province's situation  

Ali Larijani relayed to Hashemi Ayatollah Khamenei’s private message to Sheikh Mehdi Karroubi and Behzad Nabavi through Seyed Ali Asghar Hejazi, indicating that the sixth parliament should not pursue the press law reform, which effectively led to the parliament's disregard of the matter. Subsequently, a written government order reached the parliament, followed by related controversies.

Until 4 PM, we were at the headquarters in Ramsar. Due to the cold weather, we did not go to the sea. Compared to two years ago, the sea level has dropped, exposing some of the shoreline that had been submerged, and plants have regrown in some areas. I discussed management and financial issues concerning the Expediency Council with Mohsen. In the afternoon, Efat, Mona, Hassan, Omid, and Aqa Reza Marashi arrived.

In the evening, we went to Ziba Kenar for the closing ceremony of the provincial media productions festival. After reaching Langeroud, we traveled through Chamkhaleh; it was my first time taking this route. In Kiyashahr, the people were engaged in a mourning ceremony for a local figure, participating in chest-beating rituals. We were delayed there, as they did not recognize us.

Upon reaching Ziba Kenar, Mr. Larijani, the governor, and other officials welcomed us, and several groups of artists from the provinces performed. A group of children welcomed us with a song and flower throwing. The closing ceremony for managers then took place; with welcoming remarks from Mr. Larijani and [Ezzatollah] Zarghami [the Parliamentary and Provincial Affairs Assistant] and the reading of the judges' votes regarding the works from provincial centers, including research, news, and a film, as well as an interesting piece about the family life of a war veteran named Mr. Shahmardi, along with a musical performance by an artistic group from Bushehr. I presented their awards and spoke about the importance and role of state media, emphasizing three principles: the desires, needs, and interests of the people in media programming. We were their guests for dinner. Efat and Mohsen were also present.

Governor [Ali Soufi] of Gilan spoke about provincial affairs and negotiations with Russia regarding the southern and northern routes using the ports of Anzali or Amirabad, or both, passing through Iran. Mr. Larijani privately mentioned that Ayatollah Khamenei, through Mr. [Seyed Ali Asghar] Hejazi, had conveyed to Mr. [Mehdi] Karroubi [Speaker of the Parliament] and Behzad Nabavi that the parliament should not present the press law amendment in this manner, as it was a political maneuver rather than a true reform. Consequently, they felt compelled to halt the process without explicitly stating that the leadership had intervened.

We departed for Ramsar at 10:30 PM and arrived at midnight. On the way, I discussed current issues with Mohsen.