Memoirs of Akbar Hashemi – March 5, 1991

At half past eight in the morning, I went to the parliament to introduce Dr. [Reza] Melkzadeh, the Minister of Health. I spoke briefly and came out. There were a lot of representatives' requests for work and except for one opponent, no one spoke in opposition and it was a good vote of confidence. Majlisi did not see any benefit from their impeachment.

The directors of the Imam Relief Committee came. They reported and warmly supported the policies of the government. I spoke to them. The commanders of the security forces came. I spoke encouragingly for them. The ministers of foreign affairs, intelligence, country, the commander-in-chief of the IRGC and Dr. [Hasan] Rouhani came. The quality policy of dealing with the uprising of the [southern] people of Iraq was examined and decided upon.

In the evening, I did the office work and read the reports. Earlier, we discussed the issues of Iraq and the region with Mr. [Helmut] Kohl, the Chancellor of Germany. It was warm and friendly and it was supposed to continue. The Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution had a meeting. Saadoun Hammadi [Deputy Prime Minister of Iraq] and [Mohammed Saeed] Sahaf, [Counselor Minister on Foreign Affairs] came to Iran from Baghdad. Mr. [Abd al-Hossein] Wahaji gave a report of the negotiation with the Ugandan delegation over the phone. Loan oil was allowed to be sold to them with a deadline of one year.

I had a telephone conversation with Mr. Hafez Assad, the president of Syria, about the issues of the region and Iraq; He showed great interest in hearing from us about the internal affairs of Iraq. I stayed in my office at night. I slept late.