Memories of Akbar Hashemi - May 21, 2002

Dolatabadi, Iranian Ambassador to Turkey: Wise figures in Turkey count on your opinions, and Mr. Demirel [Turkish President] said in an official meeting that if we have great respect for four politicians in the world, Mr. Hashemi is one of them.

Full text of the diary:

A group of professors, managers, and students from Imam Hussein University (AS) of the IRGC came. Mr. [Ali Asghar] Zaari, the Vice President of the university, reported that there are nine thousand undergraduate students and 450 graduate students in master's and doctoral programs, along with four faculties and nine institutes of science and technology in the units, and ten thousand graduates. I gave a detailed speech on the philosophy of establishing that university, as well as facilitating the admission of veterans into other universities, the significant experience of war, and the role of faith, tools, and knowledge in achieving power – which is currently the main criterion in global relations – and the deception of major powers in their claims of human rights and democracy.
Mr. Mohsen Rezaei, [Secretary of the Expediency Council], came for consultation regarding issues related to the [legislation] on foreign investment; Mr. [Hossein] Morashi, [representative of Kerman], also came for this purpose. Mr. [Abdul Majid] Maadi Khah, [head of the Foundation for the History of the Revolution], came and complained about the failure of the Islamic Azad University to fulfill commitments related to the historical theses of students regarding the Foundation's projects and expressed concern about the current situation. There was an objection regarding the sidelining of Mr. [Mohammad] Moradi - who is responsible for the final arrangement of the Quranic culture collection on behalf of the [Islamic] Advertising Office in Qom.

In the era of Mr. [Firooz] Dowlati, the new ambassador of Iran to Turkey, he came and consulted on relevant policies and sought assistance in fulfilling duties. He said that the wise personalities of Turkey rely on your opinions, and Mr. [Suleyman] Demirel, the [President of Turkey], mentioned in an official meeting that if we hold great respect for four politicians in the world, Mr. Hashemi is one of them. He appreciated my efforts to solve the gas and electricity issues as the most fundamental tools for cooperation with Turkey and mentioned that Turkey is currently valuing ECO [Economic Cooperation Organization] more than ever and sought opinions on the Kurdish issue.

Mr. [Mohsen] Nourbakhsh, [the Governor of the Central Bank] came. He had a proposal regarding the ceiling for foreign investment, which he could not prove its validity. It was decided to review it again. A strong earthquake shook Amol.

Three American soldiers were killed in Afghanistan. The locusts caused significant damage to Afghanistan's agriculture. [Abdelaziz Bouteflika], the President of Algeria, has strongly criticized the labeling of [Ariel] Sharon, [the Prime Minister of Israel], as a man of peace by [George] Bush, [the President of the United States].