Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – July 7, 2003

We went to the [Hejab Hall] of the Institute for the Intellectual Development of Children and Young Adults to inaugurate the [seventh] congress of the Parent-Teacher Associations. Dr. [Hassan Maleki], [the Deputy Minister of Education in the Central Organization of the Parent-Teacher Association], gave a report. I spoke about the importance of coordination between home and school in educating youth and children. They presented me with a replica of Imam Reza's (AS) former tombstone as a gift.

In my office, Mr. Taha Hashemi, [the managing director of Entekhab newspaper], came. He has returned from his trip to Japan. He said that in Japanese political circles, it was being said that if Mr. Rafsanjani's construction policy had continued until now, Iran would have been close to becoming a developed country. He informed me that the Leadership has dissolved the board of directors of the Qom Islamic Propagation Office to replace it with a board of trustees, due to a dispute they had with Mr. [Mohammad] Jafari [Gilani].

In the afternoon, the board of directors of Islamic Azad University, Kashkooieh branch of Rafsanjan, came. Principal approval was granted to them. Mr. [Mohammad] Asadi has been selected as the president, but due to a lack of budget, they have not done anything. They asked me for assistance. I told them they must secure funds locally. The Friday prayer leader of Kashkooieh also sought financial assistance for his programs.

The surgical operation to separate Laleh and Ladan is progressing, but due to unforeseen complications, it will take more than 45 hours. Mr. [Seyyed Mohammad] Khatami has sent them a message and has accepted the hospital expenses on behalf of Iran; reportedly $37,000. The doctors are not taking any money. It has become a global news subject.

The Americans have announced that two more Americans were killed today, and massive explosions have occurred in Baghdad, Ramadi, etc., though they do not report the casualties or damage from them. [Paul] Bremer, [the Administrator of the Coalition Provisional Authority of Iraq], has accepted the formation of an opposition council to participate in the transfer of power. In the US and UK, pressure from the public and rivals on George Bush, [the US President], and [Tony] Blair, [the British Prime Minister], is intensifying, and the families of the deployed soldiers are becoming restless.

[Hamid] Karzai, [the President of the Transitional Administration of Afghanistan], has made sharp remarks against the incursions of Pakistani military personnel into Afghan territory. On the eve of George Bush's regional tour to Africa, [Robert] Mugabe, [the President of Zimbabwe], delivered a fierce speech against him, and demonstrations have taken place against his visit in South Africa and Senegal.