"Memories of Akbar Hashemi - 28 Esfand 1378 - Today's meeting with Seyyed Mohammad Khatami, whom Akbar Hashemi intentionally did not receive at home yesterday, took place today at the workplace, and the heart

felt discussions that Hashemi attempted to express and narrate are extremely important and historical.

Footnote: Please refer to the footnote by Abdi Media regarding the possibility of unpublished material in the remarks of Mohsen Hashemi, which was released yesterday, even if the assumption is weak.

I worked in my office until four-thirty in the afternoon. Mr. [Seyyed Mohammad] Khatami, the President, came. We discussed yesterday's statements by [Ms. Madeleine Albright], the U.S. Secretary of State. He said that they had previously sent the text of the speech to Iran through the Swiss embassy, so Iran's reaction would be based on the precise text of the speech and not on the reports from news agencies. They stated that they were speaking to soften the political atmosphere; however, the comments made about the leadership and the institution of leadership being undemocratic, as well as the remarks against the IRGC and the intelligence and judiciary, would worsen the situation. Leftist media have welcomed it, while right-wing circles have a negative reaction, and state media have highlighted the negative points.

Mr. Khatami expressed concern about the current situation in the country, saying we are moving toward secularism, the economic situation is poor, and conditions were better during your government. There was a calm movement toward political, cultural, and economic development, but today’s developments have caused anger among religious and clerical circles. I said it would be better for him to separate himself from the actions of some extremist supporters.

He has several complaints about macro management:

1 - Lack of attention to expert opinions, including the rejection of the recent resolution by the Supreme National Security Council.

2 - Opposition to the Minister of Culture, Mr. Mohajerani.

3 - Dealing with the Freedom Movement and the lack of cooperation from the Ministry of Intelligence for implementation.

4 - Insistence on retaining some individuals in the police force.

He said that if this remaining year passes safely, he would in no way be willing to accept responsibility in the next term, and he mentioned that the Society of Combatant Clergy is also upset about the lack of success in the [sixth] parliamentary elections, and he knows that the situation for the clergy is even worse, although the left is overall the winner.

We arrived in Kish in the evening. Mr. [Mohammad Reza] Yazdanpanah, [CEO of the Kish Free Zone Organization], and his deputies welcomed us at the airport and provided a report on the situation of the island during the journey. In Taiwan, Mr. Chen, the independence-seeker, has won."