Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – February 13, 1989

I went to the parliament first. It is snowing heavily. I read the reports. In the public meeting, I thanked the people for attending the 22 Bahman march and talked about the release of political prisoners and the Imam's pardon.

At half past nine, I went to the presidential headquarters for the Reconstruction Council. The ministers of industries, mines and commerce and the head [of the organization] of administrative and employment affairs also came. There was a discussion about the merger of the Ministries of Industries and Mines. Mr. [Syed Mansour] Razavi [Head of the Administrative and Employment Affairs Organization of the country] defended the merger and [Mr. Majid Ghasemi] the head of the Central Bank and others opposed it, and finally it was decided that in the announcement of the policies, only the need to merge frequent organizations and remove wastes should be mentioned and no institution should be named. The free entry of industrial raw materials was also discussed and the continuation of the discussion was postponed to the next meeting.

I went to the assembly to rest. In the evening of Mr. Aghazadeh, the oil minister and petrochemical managers came and reported the negotiations with Japan about the Iran-Japan petrochemical project. The Japanese have refused to continue their participation and have agreed to give up their entire capital and liquidate the account, which after the calculation, it turned out that they have to pay about 300 million dollars for past debts. They said they will give a loan of one billion dollars. It was decided to insist to continue working in order to get more points. Mr. Aghazadeh gave a report on the progress of gas and oil industries. I told [Mohsen] Kongerlu [prime minister's advisor] to bring the document of Chirac's commitments for the release of [Anis] Naqash, because Chirac has denied it. I worked in my office until seven in the evening.

I sent a check to Mustafafan Foundation for several years' rent of Jamaran's house next to Beit Imam. I have also spent some money to repair the house and build the guard house.

I went to the meeting of the heads of forces and the Supreme Judicial Council. The imam has ordered to make a decision about the division of duties of the council members. I am against the division and am in favor of the concentration of duties and powers. Finally, the division plan was approved, but it was unanimously agreed that concentration with the veto power of the council chairman is preferable. I came home Heavy snow has fallen and is still falling.