Akbar Hashemi's Memoirs - January 17, 2002

Mr. [Ali] Karimi [Ghodosi, Deputy Custodian of the Holy Shrine] and [Abdullah] Kopayi, [Director General of the Sarakhs Special Economic Zone] reported and asked for my more serious support for the activation of the zone. Mr. Kopayi spoke about the important issues of my solving the problems of major projects since 40 years ago. I also spoke about the important economic effects of the project.

Full text of the daily:

At 6:30 in the morning, we drove to the Dosti Dam on the border with Turkmenistan. We were supposed to go by plane, but due to clouds, rain, and fog, the plane was unable to land there. On the way, Mr. [Ali] Karimi [Ghodosi, Deputy Custodian of the Holy Shrine] and [Mohsen] Aminzadeh, [Deputy for Asia at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs] explained. Mr. Aminzadeh spoke about the situation in Afghanistan and the issues of Iraq and Russia. Mr. [Safar Murad] Niyazov, [President of Turkmenistan] was also supposed to come, but due to the weather, he could not fly, but a group of his ministers arrived last night and set up tents and were ready to welcome him. We had a long telephone conversation with Niyazov. He expressed his regret and it was agreed that he would come to Tehran in March. We decided to put the dam into operation a year ahead of schedule.
The Ministers of Irrigation and Telecommunications of Turkmenistan came and we discussed ways to accelerate construction. Then, in the company of managers and contractors, Mr. [Reza] Ardakanian, [Deputy Minister of Energy], and Mr. [Seydmorteza] Hosseini, [Regional] Director General of Water of [Khorasan] Province, reported on the water situation and the dam's work.
The dam is being built on the Harirud River on the border with Turkmenistan. Years ago, in the presence of the heads of ECO member states, Niyazov and I had hammered the hammer into the ground. Due to the weakness of the Turkmen side, there has been a delay, and recently, upon learning of my trip there and Mr. Niyazov's decision to travel, he ordered the resolution of the problems and the workshops have been activated. Each of the two countries is responsible for 50 percent. We were supposed to be their guests for lunch, but since Mr. Niyazov did not come, they became guests of Iran. I also spoke about the importance of the dam for the development of the Sarakhs region and the water supply of Mashhad.
In the evening, we went to the Sarakhs Special Economic Zone. We saw a very vast plain and the good lands of Sarakhs on the way. We crossed the border road along the border river and visited the area. The infrastructure has been built. Mr. [Ali] Karimi [Ghoddoosi, Deputy Custodian of the Holy Shrine] and [Abdullah] Kopayi, [Director General of the Sarakhs Special Economic Zone] reported and asked for my more serious support for the activation of the zone. Mr. Kopayi spoke about the important issues of my solving major problems from 40 years ago to now. I also spoke about the important economic effects of the plan.
We arrived at Mashhad airport at 7:30 and held discussions with Mr. [Reza] Ardakanian and [Mehdi] Safari, [Iran’s Special Representative for the Caspian Sea and Director General of the Commonwealth of Independent States] until Tehran.
Today, too, the Hayat-No newspaper has been criticized in most Friday prayers.