Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi - April 22, 2002

The new Mexican ambassador spoke of the many similarities between Iran and Mexico, including the transit of drugs, ancient civilization and oil industries, and Mr. Khatami's visit to Turkmenistan to participate in the summit of the Caspian Sahel countries. Given the expectations created by the statements of the hardliners of the left, it is not possible to reach any conclusion at the summit.

Full text of the diary:

[Mr. Salvador Cassin Santos], the new ambassador of Mexico, came and talked about the many similarities between Iran and Mexico, including the transit of drugs, ancient civilization and oil industries, and said that pistachios and carpets are exported from Iran to Mexico, and although they have a per capita income of 8,000 dollars, 40 percent of the people are below the poverty line.  

Mr. [Gholamreza] Forouzesh, [a member of the Tehran City Council], has recently traveled to Karbala. He spoke a lot about the poverty and misery of the Iraqi people, as well as the severe tyranny of the [Saddam Hussein] government, and consulted to leave the Constructive Workers Party.  

Mr. [Hossein] Kamali, [the head of the country's grain organization], the former Minister of Labor [and Social Affairs], came. He explained the situation of the grain organization, the fact that no action had been taken to store wheat or barley and the danger of war, and said that the situation of the Islamic Party had made things worse. He expected to be a member of the Expediency Council, but he did not.  

In the evening, the commanders of the IRGC's readiness and support came. Mr. [Mahmoud] Dehghani, [the representative of the Supreme Leader in the readiness and support of the ground forces], reported and I also spoke about the importance of the establishment of the IRGC and the Basij and the role they have played in the defense and security of the country.  

Mr. [Seyyed Mohammad] Khatami, [the President], went to Turkmenistan to [participate] in the summit of the Caspian Sahel countries, and given the expectations created by the statements of the hardliners of the left, he will not be able to reach any conclusion at the summit. Other Central Asian countries are supposed to go as well, and they are not in a good situation due to the new presence of the United States and the West.  

In Palestine, the Israeli army still kills, destroys, and arrests on a daily basis, and martyrdom operations have almost stopped. Israel brazenly refused to accept the UN fact-finding mission.  

The French presidential election was a surprise. Socialist French Prime Minister Jospin has withdrawn from the election. [Jean-Marie] Le Pen, the far-right [leader of the National Front], came in the second round with 27 percent of the votes, and [Jacques] Chirac with 19.9 votes. In fact, the French left was eliminated. It is predicted that in the second round, in order to prevent the victory of the extreme right, the people will vote for Chirac. 30% of the people did not participate in the elections.  

In Gujarat, India, riots and conflicts continue [between Muslims and Hindus], and they are mostly to the detriment of Muslims. The U.S. has sent new troops to the Philippines and there have been explosions at the same time. At night, Tayyibeh's sister and relatives came.