Month: June 2005

Lebanese candidate lists for 12 June parliamentary elections
Lebanese National News Agency website, Beirut
10 Jun 05

The Lebanese National News Agency on 10 June carried the following
report highlighting details of the third round of the 2005 Lebanese
parliamentary elections scheduled to be held on 12 June in the Jabal
Lubnan (Mount Lebanon) and Al-Biqa electoral districts:
“The third phase of Lebanon’s 2005 parliamentary elections will be
held in the governorates of Jabal Lubnan and Al-Biqa on Sunday 12
June, with polling stations scheduled to open at 0700 [0400 gmt] and
to close at 1800 [1500 gmt].
Jabal Lubnan Governorate
Total number of polling stations: 1,551
Number of voters: 738,341
Number of parliamentary seats: 35
Number of electoral districts: 4 (Kasrawan and Jubayl), (Matn),
(Ba’abdah and Alayh), (Al-Shuf)
Jabal Lubnan first electoral district comprised of the constituencies
of Kasrawan and Jubayl [Byblos]:
Number of voters: 157,145
Number of parliamentary seats: 8 (1 Shi’i), (7 Maronites)
Number of polling stations: 336
Kasrawan constituency
Number of voters: 86,480
Number of parliamentary seats: 5 (5 Maronites)
Number of polling stations: 179
Candidates running for parliamentary seats in the Kasrawan
constituency:
(5 Maronite seats): Joseph Hanna Khalil, Faris Nihad Buwayiz,
Ni’matallah Faris Abi-Nasr, Alexander Jean Rizq, Gabi Astafan Kamil,
Kluvis Kluvis al-Khazin, Rudolph Salim al-Franji, Mansur Fu’ad Ghanim
al-Bon, Shakir Ilyas Salamah, Farid Ilyas al-Khazin, Marun Louis
Abu-Sharaf, Farid Haykal al-Khazin, Kamil Antoine Zayadah, George
Antoine Abi-Zayd, Ilyas Shakrallah al-Khazin, Antoine Bicharah al-Mir,
Nu’man Joseph Mrad, Michel Na’im Awn, Rober Jean Abi-Fahd Adaymi,
Antoine Yusif al-Hkayim, Fadi Abdallah Barakat, Simon Habib Sfayr,
Jean Najib Sarkis, Gilbert Morris Zwayn, Al-Shaykh Badi Adib Hbaysh,
Joseph Tanyus al-Zayik, Hanna As’ad Ghusn, Tony Wahbah al-Kraydi,
Ilyas Nabih al-Qazi, Joseph Louis Abu-Sharaf, Shawqi Jirgi al-Dakkash,
Khalil Ilyas Karam, Saj’an Milad al-Qazi.
Jubayl constituency
Number of voters: 70,665
Number of parliamentary seats: 3 (1 Shi’i), (2 Maronites)
Number of polling stations: 157
Candidates running for parliamentary seats in the Jubayl constituency:
(1 Shi’i seats): Diyab Kamil Kan’an, Abbas Husayn Hashim, Mustafa Ali
al-Husayni, Afif Najib Awwad, Muhammad Ali Haydar, Mahmud Ibrahim
Awwad, Mashhur Hasan Haydar Ahmad Hikmat Haydar al-Haj, Sa’dun Tanal
Hamadah, Samir Nayif Haydar Ahmad, Muhammad Dib Rmayhi Haydar Ahmad.
(2 Maronite seats): Faris Antoine Sa’yid, Emile Butrus Nawfal, Michel
George Karam, Jean Nassib al-Hawatt, Carlos Pierre Edde, Fadi Najib
Rawhana Saqr, Rafiq Ilyas Abi-Yunis, Nazim Sa’id al-Khuri, Shamil
Yusif Muzaya, Roge Jean Edde, Walid Najib al-Khuri, Jean-Lui Louis
Qirdahi, Kamal Alber Qirdahi, Pierre Wakim Ja’arah, Simon Farid
Abi-Rumya, Marun Asad Karam.
Jabal Lubnan second electoral district comprised of the Matn
constituency
Number of voters: 162,760
Number of parliamentary seats: 8 (4 Maronites), (2 Greek Orthodox), (1
Greek Catholic), (1 Armenian Orthodox)
Number of polling stations: 348
Candidates running for parliamentary seats in the Matn constituency:
(4 Maronites): Sarkis Ilyas Sarkis, Nassib Salim Lahhud, Qaysar August
Bakhus, Pierre Amin al-Gimayil, Wadi Fayiz al-Hajj, Majid Eddy Fa’iq
Abi-al-Lamaa, Ghassan Asad al-Ashqar, Charbil Michel Salamah, Salim
Emile Salhab, Jihad Ilyas Salamah, Emile Jirgi Kan’an, Ibrahim Yusif
Kan’an, Raymond Aziz Azzar, Nabil Saba Nicola, Jean Yusif Abu-Jawdah,
Ilyas Butrus al-Zughbi.
(2 Greek Orthodox): Gabriel Ilyas al-Murr, Ilyas Samir Mkhaybar, Riyad
Tawfiq Abi-Fadil, Michel Ilyas al-Murr, Ghassan Emile Mkhaybar, Michel
Mrad Aqil.
(1 Greek Catholic): Charles Yusif al-Murr, Antoine Habib Haddad,
Salman Munir Samahah, Edgar Fu’ad Ma’luf, Ziyad Saba Saliba, Roge
Joseph Sham’ah, Philip Yusif Ma’luf, Kamil Bachir Kfuri.
(1 Armenian Orthodox): Rafi Artin Madyan, Agub Uhanis Agub
Pakradunian.
Jabal Lubnan third electoral district comprised of the Ba’abdah and
Alayh constituencies:
Number of voters: 251,989
Number of parliamentary seats: 11 (2 Shi’is), (5 Maronites), (3
Druze), (1 Greek Orthodox)
Number of polling stations: 526
Ba’abdah constituency
Number of voters: 142,350
Number of parliamentary seats: 6 (2 Shi’is), (3 Maronites), (1 Druze)
Number of polling stations: 300
Candidates running for parliamentary seats in the Ba’abdah
constituency:
(2 Shi’is): Basim Ahmad al-Saba, Sa’d Mustafa Salim, Ali Fadil Ammar,
Riyad Hasan Ra’d, Ramzi Rustum Kinj, Salah Mahmud al-Harakah, Sa’id
Muhammad Alamah, Fayiz Amin Rahhal.
(3 Maronites): Salah Edwar Hnayin, Antoine Tawfiq Ghanim, Pierre Abdu
al-Dakkash, Edmun Wadi Na’im, Abdallah Victor Farhat, Shakib Wadi
Qartabawi, Charles Kamil al-Shidyaq, Naji Kamil Gharyus, Yusif Abdu
Muwanas, Milad Yusif al-Qarih, Antoine Yusif Harb, Ilyas Jirgis
Abu-Assi.
(1 Druze): Suhayl Sa’id al-A’war, Ayman Shawkat Shqayr, Ghalib Samir
al-A’war.
Alayh consituency
Number of voters: 109,639
Number of parliamentary seats: 5 (2 Maronites), (2 Druze), (1 Greek
Orthodox)
Number of polling stations: 226
Candidates running for parliamentary seats in the Alayh constituency:
(2 Maronites): Fu’ad Raji al-Sa’d, Henry Pierre al-Hilu, As’ad Yusif
Abi-Ra’d, Kamil Emile Mkarzal, Rafiq Sa’d Khalil al-Fghali, Hikmat
Faraj Dib, Antoine Iliya al-Hitti.
(2 Druze): Faysal Afif al-Sayigh, Akram Husayn Shahayib, Al-Amir Talal
al-Amir Majid Arslan, Hayat Shafiq Wahab, Isam Sa’id Sharaf al-Din.
(1 Greek Orthodox): Antoine Morris Andrawis, Marwan Munir Abu-Fadil,
Id Najib Abd-al-Nur.
Jabal Lubnan fourth electoral district comprised of Al-Shuf
constituency:
Number of voters: 166,447
Number of parliamentary seats: 8 (3 Maronites), (2 Sunni), (2 Druze),
(1 Greek Catholic)
Number of polling stations: 341
Candidates running for parliamentary seats in Al-Shuf constituency:
(3 Maronites): George Jamil Idwan, Elli Michel Awn, Nabil Majid
al-Bustani, Kamil Butrus Lahhud, Kamil Michel Duri Cham’un, Raymon
Abdu Rajhah, Ghayath Fu’ad Bustnai, Simon Wadi al-Qazzi, Mario Aziz
Awn.
(2 Sunni): Muhammad Qasim Rachid al-Hajjar, Al’a-al-Din Khadir Tru,
Ramzi Shakir Awwad.
(2 Druze): Uncontested winners -Walid Kamal Bayk Junblatt, Marwan
Muhammad Hamadah.
(1 Greek Catholic): Ni’mah Yusif Tu’mah, Sulayman Mahfuz Abu-Rjayli.
Al-Biqa Governorate
Total number of polling stations: 947
Number of voters: 489,246
Number of parliamentary seats: 23
Number of electoral districts: 3 (Ba’lbakk and Hirmil), (Zahlah),
(Rashaya and Western Al-Biqa)
Al-Biqa first electoral district comprised of Ba’lbakk and Hirmil
constituencies:
Number of voters: 236,492
Number of parliamentary seats: 10 (6 Shi’is), (1 Maronite), (2 Sunni),
(1 Greek Catholic)
Number of polling stations: 472
Number of voters in Ba’lbakk: 198,752
Number of polling stations in Ba’lbakk: 396
Number of voters in Hirmil: 37,740
Number of polling stations in Hirmil: 76
Candidates running for parliamentary seats in the Ba’lbakk and Hirmil
constituencies: (6 Shi’is): Assim Muhammad Qansuh, Hasan Muhammad
Nabha, Durayd Muhammad Yaghi, Fadi Ali Yunis, Ali Badri Dandash,
Muhammad Qasim Za’ytar, Ali Muhammad Salman Bachir al-Miqdad, Husayn
Ali al-Hajj Hasan, Jamal Ali al-Taqsh, Hani Ali Shamas, Husayn Ali
al-Husayni, Ghazi Muhammad Za’ytar, Yihya Muhammad Shamas, Rif’at
Nayif al-Masri, Ali Sabri Bayk Hamadah, Fayiz Shihab Shakr, Hafiz Fahd
Qamhaz, Ali Salih al-Musawi, Muhib Subhi Hamadah, Nawwar Muhammad
al-Sahili, Aqil Salman Hamiyah.
(1 Maronite): Tariq Butrus Habchi, Nadir Najib Sukkar, Shawqi Tannus
al-Fakhri, Ilyas Mikha’il Hadchiti.
(2 Sunni): Kamil Muhammad al-Rifa’i, Isma’il Muhammad Sukariyah,
Husayn Muhammad Salih, Muhammad Ahmad Dirgham, Mustafa Abd-al-Karim
al-Hujayri, Husayn Ahmad al-Hujayri, Muhammad Husayn al-Atrash.
(1 Greek Catholic): Marwan Faris Faris, Talal Ilyas al-Maqdisi, Salim
Michel Kallas, Alber Sami Mansur, Sa’ud Yusif Rufa’il, Hassan Yusif
Makhluf.
Al-Biqa second electoral district comprised of Zahlah constituency:
Number of voters: 140,069
Number of parliamentary seats: 7 (1 Shi’i), (1 Maronite), (1 Sunni),
(2 Greek Catholic), (1 Greek Orthodox), (1 Armenian Orthodox)
Number of polling stations: 264
Candidates running for parliamentary seats in the Zahlah constituency:
(1 Shi’i): Muhsin Ali Dallul, Shafiq al-Sayyid Hamad al-Musawi,
Muhammad Ali Dib al-Sahili, Amir Muhammad al-Sabburi, Mayad Salih
Sulayman Haydar, Mazin Abd-al-Rahman Badra, Muhammad Ali Abu-Hamdan,
Ali Ahmad Abu-Hamdan, Hasan Muhammad Ya’qub.
(1 Maronite): George Musa Sawwan, Alber Najib Ghanttus, Khalil George
al-Hrawi, Elli Michel Maruni, Paul Jean Charbil, Joseph Wadi Cham’un,
Salim George Awn.
(1 Sunni): Ali Muhammad Mita, Ahmad Jamil Yassin, Asim Fayiz Araji,
Kamal Hasan al-Mis, Khalid Hasan al-Sarrut, Najah Rif’at Qaz’un,
Tawfiq Rachid al-Hindi, Umar Qasim al-Jamal, Izz-al-Din Rida Sa’d,
Hasan Umar al-Ali, Samih Hasan al-Yaman, Ghassan Abdallah al-Mis.
(2 Greek Catholic): Nicola Michel Fattush, Tony Mikha’il Abu-Khattir,
Tony Jirgis Tu’mah, Ilyas Joseph al-Skaff, Naji Michel al-Skaff, Fu’ad
Hanna al-Turk, Walid Michel Shuwayri, Joseph Ilyas al-Qassuf, Suhayl
Milhim al-Qash, Ilyas Fu’ad al-Skaff, Habib Michel al-Asta, Elli Wadi
Fakhuri.
(1 Greek Orthodox): Yusif Qaysar Rizq al-Ma’luf, Shukri Najib
al-Tayni, Nabil Ilyas al-Haddad, Nasif Ilyas al-Tayni, Kamil Khalil
al-Ma’luf, Joseph Anis Ma’luf, Roge Mikhayil al-Dabs.
(1 Armenian Orthodox): Antoine Khachir Nachanaqyan, George Abdin
Qasarji, Chant Mardirus Jinginyan, Vartex Hagub Tchabaryan.
Al-Biqa third electoral district comprised of Rashaya and Western
Al-Biqa constituencies:
Number of voters: 112,685
Number of parliamentary seats: 6 (1 Shi’i), (1 Druze), (2 Sunni), (1
Greek Orthodox), (1 Maronite)
Number of polling stations: 211
Number of voters in Rashaya: 198,752
Number of polling stations in Rashaya: 396
Number of voters in the Western Al-Biqa: 37,740
Number of polling stations in the Western Al-Biqa: 76
Candidates running for parliamentary seats in the Rashaya and Western
Al-Biqa constituencies:
(1 Shi’i): Ali Subhi Sabh, Mahmud Faris Abu-Hamdan, Muhammad Husayn
Qasim, Hani Husayn Sulayman, Nasir Msalam Nasrallah, Muhammad Qasim
As’ad.
(1 Druze): Faysal Salim Dawud, Wa’il Wahbi Abu-Fa’ur.
(2 Sunni): Faruq Ibrahim Dahruj, Umar Muhammad Chibli, Abd-al-Rahim
Yusif Mrad, Jamil Ma’mun Sharanaq, Ahmad al-Shaykh Zayn al-Khatib,
Jamal Salim Jarrah, Ziyad Nazim al-Qadiri, Samir Muhammad Harb, Mumtaz
Akram Fawwaz, Sami Badi al-Khatib, Abdallah Muhammad Wahhab, Ahmad
Muhammad Fattuh, Ali Husayn al-Hajj, Ahmad Muhammad al-Arah.
(1 Greek Orthodox): Ilyas Yusif Firzli, Antoine Nicola Sa’d, Elli
Najib Firzli, Norma Adib Firzli, Sami Fawzi Abbud, Nicola Najib Saba.
(1 Maronite): Henri Yusif Shdayid, Rober Iskandar Ghanim.”

COLLECTIONS OF DOCUMENTS CONCERNING ARMENIAN GENOCIDE BEING KEPT IN
FRENCH AND GERMAN ARCHIVES PUBLISHED IN YEREVAN
YEREVAN, JUNE 10, NOYAN TAPAN. On the occasion of the 90th anniversary
of the Armenian Genocide, the History Institute of the RA National
Academy of Sciences published the works “Great Powers, Ottaman Empire
and Armenians in French Archieves” by Artur Peylerian, a historian,
and “Armenians’ Genocide” by Walfgang Gust. The books were published
at the “Hayastan” (“Armenia”) publishing house. Artur Peylerian’s work
was first published in French in 1983, and this year the work has
first been published in Armenian. The French Armenian historian found
757 documents in French archives, classified them on 5 themes
including main intents of Antanta states concerning eastern regions of
Turkey, Armenians’ displacemets and massacres, activities of the
Armenian national delegation in France and Nubar Pashah, activities of
detachments formed from Armenian in the Eastern Legion’s structure and
the Caucasian front. The work of Walfgang Gust, the editor of the
German famous “Schpigel” journal is published in Russian. Official
documents and materials from German archives which are being published
for the first time are presented in the book. Stepan Stepanian, Doctor
of historical sciences, Professor wrote in the preface to the book
that “Turks living in Germany having become furious of Walfgang Gust’s
publications gathered then in front of the publishing house, demanded
liquidation of the print run. But, Gust continued Lepsius’ activity
and found out that, in German archives, the number of documents
concerning the Genocide surpasses 3000.” W.Gust placed about 100
documents in the armenocide.com Internet site opened by him.

Zaman Online, Turkey
June 12 2005
New Strategic Relations with the US
ERHAN BASYURT
06.12.2005 Sunday – ISTANBUL 16:14
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s contacts in Washington
are clear signs that the crisis atmosphere between the two countries
will be resolved. The meeting that lasted nearly one hour between
Erdogan and U.S. President George W. Bush at the Oval Office, in
which several issues were discussed, is of paramount importance.
Bush said in a press release after the meeting, “Turkey and the U.S.
have an important strategic relationship.” The _expression “strategic
partnership” had been used to describe bilateral relations before the
Iraq crisis. Bush’s remarks confirm there is a slowdown in the crisis
process, that began with the March 1 deployment motion. Still, it
signifies that both parties need bilateral relations “strategically”
and believe that cooperation will bring mutual benefits.
It is not right to put all the blame on the Justice and Development
Party (AKP) for the deterioration in relations. Michael Rubin, who
served at the Pentagon during the said period, analyzes this
situation quite well in one of his articles entitled, “A Comedy of
Errors,” in the recent edition of the Turkish Political Quarterly
that is published by the Ari Group. He refers to the [Massoud]
Barzani factor, the U.S. diplomatic aloofness and the military
operation launched by CENTCOM, which is alien to the Turkish army, to
show what they have done to hurt relations.
On the other side, another crucial factor is the US indifference to
the presence of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) terrorist
organization in Northern Iraq. The fight against terrorism plays an
important role for Turkey in developing its relations with both
Israel and the US. The tolerance shown towards the PKK, inevitably
forced Turkey to adopt a definite stance on the issue, and the US
took immediate against Ansar al-Islam in Northern Iraq after Saddam
was toppled. However, it did not act against the PKK. Today, it might
be difficult for the US to take such action due to the ongoing
insurgence; however, there was no such insurgence at that time.
Furthermore, the “Sack Operation” also took place.
Remarks on possible factors that have caused a deterioration in
relations, and which side has made more mistakes, are meaningless
from now on. What is important is that both parties give strategic
importance to the continuation and development of relations. As a
matter of fact, the US made a significant gesture by puncturing the
air embargo and sending Congressmen to the Turkish Republic of
Northern Cyprus (TRNC). The support the US gives to Turkey on this
issue might play a balancing role regarding the unilateral pressures
from the European Union (EU). Bush also backed Turkey’s proposal for
a “joint commission of historians” to deal with the so-called
Armenian “genocide” allegations. Now, these gestures need to be
strengthened with concrete cooperation against the PKK. In this
respect, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice reassured Foreign
Minister Abdullah Gul one more time. Any steps taken by the US
against the PKK will contribute to restoring confidence.
Meanwhile, Turkey’s opening the Incirlik Base for logistic support;
the positive roles, both civilian and military, it has played in
Afghanistan, are also other issues. Turkey also supports the U.S.
Broader Middle East and North Africa Initiative. Bush thanked Turkey
for this support and emphasized once again that Turkish democracy
represents a “model,” during his announcement at the Oval Office.
Within the framework of the Broader Middle East initiative, Turkey is
co-chairman of the “Democracy Assistance Dialogue” group together
with Italy and Yemen. It is conducting studies on strengthening
nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in Islamic countries and also on
increasing women’s role in public life. Turkey will host an
international conference on women’s position in public life within
the framework of the Broader Middle East Initiative in the upcoming
days.
It seems that the “strategic partnership,” that was established
during the First Gulf War and damaged by the Second Gulf War, has
given way to “strategic relations.” Erdogan’s visit is important in
terms of overcoming the bottleneck in bilateral relations; however,
this does not mean that relations will return to their pre-crisis
levels. Reciprocal steps that will be taken in the months ahead will
determine how much the crisis has been resolved.

Boston Globe, MA
June 12 2005
Catch a rising czar
After nearly 300 years, the Baroque opera ‘Boris Goudenow’ makes its
premiere
By Lawrence A. Johnson, Globe Correspondent | June 12, 2005
In 1710 in Boston, theatrical performance was banned, a legacy of the
city’s Puritan origins. Meanwhile, 3,631 miles away in Hamburg,
Johann Mattheson was anticipating the opening of his opera ”Boris
Goudenow,” a work he believed would crown his reputation as one of
the most innovative composers in Europe.
Mattheson was then highly influential, a mentor to the young Handel
and a composer for the Hamburg Opera. ”Boris Goudenow,” chronicling
a Russian czar’s ascension to the throne amid political and romantic
intrigues, was designed to be populist in style, with a flamboyant,
spectacular production.
But for reasons unknown, that performance never took place. Nor was
”Boris” heard the following year, or the year after that — or ever.
Not only was Mattheson’s greatest opera never performed, most of his
music ultimately vanished, and he became known only to scholars as an
author of arcane musical treatises.
This week, Mattheson will have belated vindication, as 18th-century
Hamburg and 21st-century Boston come together in the Boston Early
Music Festival’s presentation of ”Boris Goudenow,” opening Tuesday
night at the Cutler Majestic Theatre.
Festival artists and musicians have been working for two years to
bring off this world premiere, delayed nearly three centuries. And
according to festival artistic directors Stephen Stubbs and Paul
O’Dette, Mattheson’s opera ranks as one of the major unearthed
musical treasures of the last century.
”I think ‘Boris’ is a real masterpiece. It’s an embarrassment of
riches,” says O’Dette. ”It goes from one brilliant aria to the next
to the next. He really knew how to write great, memorable tunes that
you cannot get out of your head.”
The score covers a wide range of expression, from soaring arias for
three pairs of lovers to the Bruegel-like low comedy of the servant
Bodga. Throw in some lavish costumes, dashing swordplay, and dance
interludes, and Boston audiences could be in for a very lively night
— one far removed from Mussorgsky’s magnificent if gloomy take on
the same Russian czar.
It is ”a real show,” Stubbs says. Think ”Les Miz” with boyar hats.
”If people come I’m sure they will be delighted and entertained and
amused,” he adds. ”There’s a huge audience out there waiting to
enjoy this. They just don’t know it yet.”
Timely exhumations
Under the artistic leadership of Stubbs and O’Dette, the Boston Early
Music Festival has been engaged in a groundbreaking series of Baroque
opera revivals in recent years. Among previous works mounted are
Rossi’s ”Orfeo,” Cavalli’s ”Ercole Amante,” and Conradi’s
”Ariadne,” the last of which has just been released on the cpo
label.
Handel, of course, is the paradigm for resuscitated Baroque vocal
music, with several of his long-languishing operas achieving mainstay
status in the last two decades. More recently, Handel’s magnificent
”Gloria,” authenticated in 2001, has leapt onto the playlist of
every Baroque-friendly high soprano.
Those reviving Mattheson’s opera believe ”Boris Goudenow” has the
potential to make a similar impact as a unique and inspired work.
Mattheson’s volatile music doesn’t sound like any of his
contemporaries, they note. ”Some of the harmonies you just don’t
believe because you haven’t seen anything like it before 1840,” says
O’Dette. ”We look at the page and think, ‘Can that really be right?’
It’s an incredibly rich harmonic language.”
Although many early-music specialists appear intrigued by ”Boris,”
some remain more cautious in their assessments. ”You have to wonder
with a lot of these people whether their works have fallen into
obscurity justly,” said Tess Knighton, editor of the scholarly
journal Early Music. She notes that she has not yet seen a complete
”Boris” score but says she hasn’t been overwhelmed by the composer’s
other works.
”What I’ve seen of Mattheson’s music doesn’t seem to be terribly
exciting,” she says. ”He doesn’t strike one as being an absolute
genius. But you never know. There’s always a possibility that this
may be his masterpiece.”
Other skeptics may ask: If Mattheson’s opera is so terrific, why has
it taken so long to be discovered? The answer is that ”Boris” eluded
recent Baroque excavations because the opera, along with much of
Mattheson’s music, disappeared behind the Iron Curtain after World
War II.
Just before the firebombing of Hamburg in July 1943, workers at the
Hamburg Library removed the most valuable material to a castle
outside the city for safekeeping. The castle was in Soviet-controlled
territory after the war, and the Russians took the cache of
manuscripts to the Soviet Union. Somehow the crates turned up in
Armenia, and they remained there until 1998, when, in return for
German financial aid to Armenia, they were returned to Germany —
including the long-lost score of ”Boris Goudenow.”
In addition to bolstering Mattheson’s status, this production is
significant for illuminating Hamburg Opera’s brief shining moment in
the late 17th and early 18th centuries — a time when it was an
epicenter of theatrical daring, a musical world of high beauty and
earthy humor.
”In a Darwinian way, it really lost the race,” says Stubbs.
”Hamburg Opera made a big attempt over a period of 50 years to put
German opera on the map, and in the end failed due to various causes
including economic collapse. But in the meantime they created this
pretty important body of work that nobody knows anything about —
operas by Keiser, Telemann, and Mattheson.”
The reason ”Boris” was never performed in 1710 remains murky, though
contemporary politics may have played a part. And Mattheson’s star
did not remain high for long. Around 1720, the composer began
experiencing hearing problems and, like Beethoven a century later,
eventually went completely deaf. He gave up composing, donated all
his scores to the library, and spent the rest of his life writing
about the musical world in which he could no longer actively
participate.
A Boris for Boston
Unlike the maligned, unhinged monarch of Mussorgsky’s ”Boris
Godunov,” Mattheson’s Boris is a dynamic, politically savvy ruler, a
”New Russia” Enlightenment figure reflecting Peter the Great’s
contemporaneous activities.
In searching for a singer to play the role, Stubbs and colleagues
made a second ”Boris” discovery. While in Russia auditioning about
two dozen of the Mariinsky Theatre’s most promising young artists,
they found their czar in Vadim Kravets.
”The first guy who walked through the door was this towering,
unbelievable young bass-baritone,” Stubbs recalls. ”We all just
immediately said, ‘That’s Boris!’ ”
In addition to a reportedly glorious voice, Kravets embodies the
spirit and power of the youthful czar. ”This is not the dying old
czar,” says Stubbs. ”This is the young ambitious Boris. He just
emanates strength and ambition, and the musicality and voice are
first class. And having Boris sing German with a Russian accent just
adds to the character.”
Appropriately for a work that has taken nearly three centuries to
reach the public, the opera’s underlying moral is that steadfastness
and fidelity will win out in the end. That optimistic theme, along
with Mattheson’s vivid style, is likely to appeal to audiences,
O’Dette believes.
”We know that if we get people into the theater they will love this
piece,” he says. ”There’s drama and entertainment, and it combines
the best of grand opera with the best of the American musical
tradition.
”It really has populist appeal on a very, very high musical level.
That’s what makes this so exciting.”

Journal of Turkish Weekly, Turkey
June 12 2005
Turkish Minister Postpones Swiss Visit in Protest
ANKARA – Turkish State Minister Kursat Tuzmen postponed an official
visit to Switzerland to protest against a Swiss investigation into a
Turkish historian, Yusuf Halacoglu, who denied the so-called Armenian
genocide claims, officials said late Thursday. In Switzerland no one
can defend a pro-Turkish approach on Armenian issue.
Tuzmen had been scheduled to take part in a June 22-24 Turkish-Swiss
business forum. But his visit and the conference were “indefinitely
postponed” because of an ongoing Swiss criminal probe into Halacoglu,
the head of the Turkish Historical Society (TTK), officials in
Tuzmen’s office said.
The probe was launched because of suspicions that Halacoglu had
violatedSwiss ‘anti-racism laws’ by denying the so-called Armenian
genocide claims in a speech last year.
Turkish the Anatolia news agency said a visit by Swiss Economy
Minister Joseph Deiss to Turkey, scheduled for September, has also
been postponed. Turkish officials could not immediately confirm the
report.
Manuel Sager, spokesman for the Swiss Economy Ministry, said that
Deiss would like to travel to Turkey as planned, but “the trip has
yet to be confirmed from the Turkish side.”
Tuzmen’s postponement is the latest row between Turkey and
Switzerland over the Armenian “genocide” claims.
Micheline Calmy-Rey, the Swiss foreign minister, had been scheduled
to travel to Turkey in 2003, but Turkey withdrew its invitation after
the Parliament of a western Swiss canton (state) recognized the
so-called Armenian genocide claims that March.
The Armenians claim that the Ottomans committed a genocide against
Armenians in 1915, and modern Turkey has to recognise it. However
Turkey has never accepted the allegations. Hundred and thousands of
Turks and Armenian died during the Armenian riot. Moder than 523,000
Turkish Ottoman citizens were massacred by the Armenian gangs.
Similarly many Armenians died in the ethnic clashes. Many more died
due to the war curcumstances. The Armenian diaspora never used the
term ‘genocide’ till 1965. However after the 1965 demonstrations,
Armenian groups started anti-Turkish campaigns in the Western
countries.
There is a strong Armenian diaspora in Switzerland and it manipulates
the Swiss politics towards Turkey.

Today, Azerbaijan
June 12 2005
Azerbaijan delegation to participate at annual session of OSCE

11 June 2005 [09:57] – Today.Az

Annual session of meeting of Parliament Assembly of OSCE is to be
held 1-5 June in capital of USA in Washington.
The agency Trend reports, the member of Azerbaijan delegation of
OSCE, the deputy of Eldar Ibrahimov noted about this.
He said, for participation at session Azerbaijan delegation with
Deputy Sattar Safarov at the head, is to leave for Washington 28
June.
S.Safarov, E.Ibrahimov, R.Aslanov, S.Aran and F.Heydarova are in
delegation. They are to participate at discussions on inclusion of
the report of Goran Lenmarker on Nagorno-Karabalh to agenda of annual
session of OSCE and also will express their protest on point of
re-dislocation of Russian military equipment from Georgia to Armenia.
URL:

Al-Bawaba, Jordan
June 12 2005
Iran, Armenia ink MoU on electricity cooperation

Posted: 12-06-2005 , 09:50 GMT

Iran and Armenia signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Tehran
Saturday to boost bilateral cooperation in the field of electricity.
The MoU was signed by Iran’s Energy Minister Habibollah Bitaraf and
his Armenian counterpart Armen Movsisyan.
Under the MoU, Iran and Armenia reached consensus to implement the
third 400-kw two-circuit transmission line project, valued at 90
million dollars, IRNA reported.
The two countries are also slated to implement the second phase of
the Iran-Armenia pipeline project, worth 130 million dollars and the
complementary project of the fifth unit of the Hrazdan thermal power
plant.
Under the framework of the agreement, Iranian companies of the Iran
Power Plant Projects Management Company (MAPNA) and Sanir are due to
add a new unit of gas power plant – capable to be transformed into
combined cycle – to Armenia. The project is worth 150 million
dollars.
Based on the accord, the implementation of the said project should be
finalized in 2007.

Zaman, Turkey
June 12 2005
Erdogan Warns both Syria and The New York Times
By Cihan News Agency
Published: Sunday 12, 2005
zaman.com
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a meeting with the
executive editors board of The New York Times (NYT) during his US
visit. Erdogan asked the NYT why it rejected the publication of a
declaration prepared by 36 Turkish nongovernmental organizations
(NGOs) against the Armenian genocide allegations and criticized the
newspaper for its paradoxical and erroneous justifications.
The editors had difficulty in answering Erdogan’s question and
announced that they would state their reply later. Erdogan also
explained in an interview with the NYT that they have been
implementing cautious pressure on Syria and emphasized that Turkey
never approves of repressive regimes. The Prime Minister said: “If
Damascus continues to shelter terrorists, it will remain isolated in
the world.”

Zaman, Turkey
June 12 2005
Period of ‘Wait and See’ in Turkish-American Relations
By Bilge Isa Seyran
Published: Sunday 12, 2005
zaman.com
Dr. Soner Cagaptay, director of Turkey program of the prominent US
think tank organization The Washington Institute, said that a period
of “wait and see” has started in Turkish-American relations following
the visit of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Commenting on Erdogan’s US visit to the Cihan News Agency, Cagaptay
noted that although the talks did not pass as warmly as the earlier
ones, they were still a nice beginning for the normalization of
Turkey-US relations, which were spoilt after the issue of the March 1
deployment motion and which have been fluctuating for the last two
years. “It was a crucial meeting between two leaders, US President
George W. Bush and Erdogan, who listened to each other on various
issues and that lasted 70 minutes. The threat of the Kurdistan
Worker’s Party (PKK) terrorist organization was discussed and
Turkey’s perspective on Armenia was shared. The issue of Syria was
also discussed, which I think was the most important of all,” the
director noted.
Cagaptay explained that Turkey’s policy on Damascus in the next
period would be a determining factor in relations with Syria, which
is the issue that caused the biggest difference of opinion between
Bush and Erdogan during their meeting. Remarking that the
international community aims to isolate Syria and push it into a
corner, Cagaptay added: “Turkey, on the other side, wants to engage
Syria into the international community and not to cut off the
dialogue process. That’s why, we need to observe how Turkey’s Syria
policy will evolve during the summer.” The Washington Institute
expert signified that Damascus sees its relations with Ankara as a
chance to break its own strategic isolation and added: “It should not
be forgotten that Syria is a country, which indirectly caused the
death of tens of thousands of Turks due to its support to the PKK a
few years ago.”
Making positive comments on the Cyprus issue, one of the most
important issues in Erdogan’s agenda, Dr. Cagaptay said: “In fact,
Cyprus is not a problem of the US but the UN. It is a matter between
the EU and Turkey. The fact that Washington makes efforts about an
issue that is not its problem, shows its sincerity.” Cagaptay
explained. Emphasizing that the expressions ‘strategic relation’ used
by Bush and ‘strategic partnership’ used by Erdogan carried a very
different meanings in international relations, Cagaptay said: “While
partnership means a strong and mutual dynamics, relation is a weaker
word. Erdogan’s use of this expression shows his desire to return to
the old days. Bush’s use of the term ‘relation’ shows that this is
not yet so.”
Cagaptay said that Turkish-American relations will get better in the
autumn with the steps taken on Cyprus, strengthening of the positive
attitude from Turkey to the US, the support of the AKP government and
the positive remarks by both sides recently. The improvement also
depends on Syria’s not causing a serious crisis.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress

Zaman, Turkey
June 12 2005
Britain Plays with Turkish Language
By Kenan Bas
Published: Sunday 12, 2005
zaman.com
A British government web-site has declared that Turkish and Kurdish
are Turkey’s official languages.
The web-site, ” is prepared by the Foreign Office
which aims to inform British citizens, who are to choose Turkey for
vocation.
Short information about Turkey’s surface, size and capital includes
‘Simple Info’ which lists the official languages of Turkey as Turkish
and Kurdish.
The web-site also indicates that 85 percent of the people living in
Turkey are Turks,12 percent Kurdish and the rest include those from
Islamic nations and Armenians and Jews. It has also been reminded
that Turkey stands on a seismic fault-line and has recently suffered
terrorist attacks targeting the HSBC and British Consulate in
Istanbul.