Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi - December 24, 2000 - Iftar Invitation from the Central Council of the Executives of Construction Party and Political Consultations

Iftar Invitation from the Central Council of the Executives of Construction Party and Political Consultations

Formation of the Infrastructure Commission of the Expediency Council and Recommendations to Ali Abdolali Zadeh Regarding the Resolution of Land Issues in Tabriz Following Complaints from Sheikh Mohsen Mojtahed Shabestari

Participation in the Conference of the Islamic Scholars Association

Complete Daily Entry:

The Infrastructure Commission of the Expediency Council held a session where we approved five clauses of the general housing policies. I advised Mr. Ali Abdolali Zadeh, the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, to resolve the issue of the lands at the Tabriz Mosque, as Mr. Mohsen Mojtahed Shabestari, the Friday Prayer Leader of Tabriz, is facing difficulties.

During Iftar, the members of the Central Council of the Executives of Construction Party were my guests. They reported that due to the current conditions in the country, the party's activities have been reduced. We discussed the presidential elections of 2001. Some believe that Mr. Seyyed Mohammad Khatami should not run again, as he may not be able to fulfill his promises, while others argue that Mr. Khatami should abandon unrealistic political slogans and focus on economic development, selecting collaborators according to this policy and staying in power. They wanted to know whether the Leader or the Guardian Council would impede his candidacy.

We went to the Imam Khomeini Complex to participate in the conference of the Islamic Scholars Association. Dr. Sheikh welcomed us, and I presented a certificate of appreciation to several researchers. I delivered a brief speech on the value of knowledge and research in Islam and the government's seriousness about developing universities during the reconstruction period.

Upon returning home, my sister Tayebeh, along with Mohammad, Masoumeh, and Ali, visited. They had just returned from Umrah, and my sister had experienced weakness during the trip but had recovered by refraining from fasting. Mohammad mentioned that behind the salty lake dam in Nough, they cultivated Artemia and harvested 1,500 kilograms this year. The only viable use of that salty water, which is close to the salinity of Lake Urmia, is the cultivation of Artemia.