Weblog of a Syrian Diplomat in America

The Archbishop of Jerusalem Blesses Saree

Yesterday, we had a visitor to our home in Kalorama Rd that will always be cherished and remembered with pride and joy. He was none other than the legendary archbishop of Jerusalem Hilarion Capucci.

Archbishop Capucci entered history as the catholic bishop who was imprisoned by Israel in 1974 for four years, then exiled away from his adoptive country Palestine. He has been roaming the world ever since, just like the flying Dutchman, hoping to be able to make it back to his beloved Jerusalem before he leaves this unjust world.

His personal tragedy notwithstanding, Archbishop Capucci is a gregarious, witty, charming and charismatic person. He captivated us with his vignettes, jokes, history and politics. He recounted to us his latest act of defiance when he tried to bring food and medicine to Gaza in February 2009 aboard a small ship that challenged the Israeli naval blockade, but was eventually caught by the Israelis, insulted, shackled, deprived from food, prevented from taking his medicine (he is a man of 87 years), and deported to al-Qunaitra in Syria.

He also reminisced about his childhood in Aleppo. He recounted how he mediated on behalf of President Carter to free six US soldiers captured in Iran. When he went to Iran for this mission, he ended up staying as the house guest of the Grand Ayatollah al-Khomeini in Qum for three days - a privilege many Iranians would envy him for.

To add icing to the cake, Archbishop Capucci blessed our new born baby and his big sister and prayed for them as well.

 

Yale, Finally

As I have said before, I had been invited to speak almost everywhere in America: major universities, small colleges, world affairs councils and city clubs – even military and navy academies. The one big exception was, until now: Yale. I was never invited to talk at Yale.

In the last two months I gave a speech at Duke’s in Durham, North Carolina; Gorge Mason’s at Fairfax, Virginia; and finally at the Middle East Institute in Washington. However, yesterday, I headed, to the most prestigious and oldest of all American Universities.

I took the plane to Hartford, Connecticut - and was then driven by car to New Haven where Yale occupies most of the town. This is very similar to the layout of Cambridge and the famous relation between town and gown.

 

 

I started my day with a meeting with the Vice President where we discussed possibilities of establishing a partnership between Yale and one of the major Syrian universities, as well as offering some scholarships to students from Syria to come and study at this renowned center of academic excellence.

Following that, I had lunch with a group of academics and administrators from Yale, including Professor Ellen Lust an acclaimed political scientist.

After a fascinating visit to the university’s richly endowed library, the Council on Middle East Studies hosted me at the Macmillan Center for a public speech and a discussion of the Obama vision toward the Middle East. In the evening, I went to dinner with more academics from Yale, most notable among them was Professor Harvey Weiss, an expert archeologist, who has worked in Syria for decades.

Today, I had lunch with a number of academics from Yale at Sam Gejdenson’s fabulous house where I met his art loving wife Betsy. All that happened before taking the train to Boston to attend a meeting at the MIT dedicated to discussing ideas about establishing an innovation center in Syria with the full support of the MIT.

Needless to say, that yesterday, Monday the 4th of May marked Saree’s completion of the second week of his life. It was the first night that I slept away from my new baby.

Saree: Welcome to this World

Today, April 20th 2009, Saree al-Sayed Moustapha has become Sidra's little brother. We have become a family of four.

 

Syrian National Day Celebration in Washington DC

On April 17, we celebrated the Independence Day at the Mandarin Hotel in Washington. The huge attendance was a testimony to how Syria is regarded by the American people despite years of trying to distort its image, particularly during the Bush era.

 

 

 

   

Washington's foremost blogger and the director of the New America Foundation Steve Clemons paid me the best compliment I have ever had since I came to America when he wrote:

"Yesterday evening, I wanted to pay my respects to a fellow blogger and lover of the arts, Imad Moustapha- who also happens to be the Ambassador of Syria to Washington."

I am usually described here as the Ambassador of Syria who is also a blogger and a lover of art. Clemons's way of introducing me was music to my ears.

The event was attended by the Syrian community from the national beltway, American friends of Syria, academics, diplomats - including almost all Arab ambassadors, prominent personalities from the US State Department, and major think tanks pundits. Most notably:  it was heavily attended by the media. Representatives of major TV channels, national newspapers, influential internet sites, bloggers and independent analysts participated in celebrating Syria's national day. The implication of their heavy attendance was both a rebuke to the Bush legacy, and a strong condoning of President Obama's policies of dialogue and respect.

Another notable blogger had also this to write about our national day celebration in his Friday Lunch Club blog. However, a less friendly comment appeared in Foreign Policy's Syria on the Potomac. Well, after all, this is life in Washington DC.

Music and Songs from Syria

Last month was particularly rich in regards to Syrian music and singing in America. Four different groups performed at various venues across America with unanimous critical acclaim. The al-Kindi ensemble of traditional oriental music performed at the Eisenhower Theatre of the Kennedy center, whereas the group led by Kinan al-Azmeh presented modern jazzy music, mainly composed by Kinan himself, at the Millennium Stage of the same center.

However, the two major events were those of the Farah children’s choir that won the hearts of large audiences in three different states, and the concert presented by six Syrian artists from the National Symphony Orchestra who performed with the Pacific Symphony Orchestra in California hosted by their conductor Carl St. Clair at the Sogerstorm Concert Hall.

The music critic of the Orange County Register wrote approvingly: “Music director Carl St.Clair invited members of the Syrian National Symphony Orchestra, including its conductor, as well as Syrian folk musicians to take part in an "Arabian Nights" program. The government of Syria, of course, is officially considered not one of this country's best pals. But music will make friends. Thursday's concert unwound as a leisurely exploration of traditional Arab music and instruments, heard in the plush context of symphony orchestra accompaniment. The Syrian musicians were welcomed warmly by the audience and seemed pleased by the reception, sending plenty of warmth back.”

The concert included pieces played by virtuoso soloists and conducted by Missak Baghbadourian, as well as a concerto written by the talented Syrian composer Zaid Jabri and conducted by Mark St. Clair. Firas Shahrestan played Vivaldi’s Four Seasons on the Qanoun, Mussalam Rahal played Shafi Baddredin’s Concerto for Nai and String Orchestra, Mouhammad Osman presented on his buzuk Muhamad Abdul Rahim’s Tango for Buzuk and Strings.

The doyen of classical music in Syria, the late Solhi al-Wadi was not absent from this concert. His orchestral piece "Meditation on a Theme by Muhammad Abdul Wahhab" was presented. The piece was described by the Orange County Register as "glitzy, lush and romantic." Presenting music by Solhi al-Wadi was particularly laden with emotions. Al-Wadi was not only the founder of the Syrian National Symphony Orchestra, but he also toured California with his orchestra fifteen years ago, and performed with his young Syrian musicians in Orange County. The biggest surprise for the evening was the composition of Zaid Jabri for clarinet, cello and orchestra. Kinan Azmeh played the clarinet solo part, while Kinan Abu Afash played the cello part. Once again, the young Zaid Jabri is proving himself to be the finest musical talent from Syria on the world scene at present. His “Oriento Grosso” uses modern discords and a contemporary idiom within an Arabic musical context to produce a strong captivating work with a powerful dramatic overtone.

Damascus, again and again

Last month I had a fabulous trip to Damascus. I went there for business, attended official meetings and did lots of public engagements (lectures, press conferences and media activities), but I also had an excellent time with my family, friends and the vibrant cultural scene there.

Because I was accompanying some visiting US Congressmen and Senators (with their families), I also spent a relatively long time going around the old town in Damascus – my favorite place in the world. I accompanied them to places as varied as the ancient Jewish synagogue in Jubar and the holy Shiite Shrine of Sett-Zeinab.

 

 

While in Damascus, I had the opportunity to attend the art exhibition of Rima Salmoun at the Art House gallery, visit the new studio of Ahmad Mualla and attend a concert of the Syrian Philharmonic Orchestra (works by Rossini and Tchaicovsky were presented, but I have to admit that I was not impressed).

I also joined the Syrian charity BASMA in a press conference to advocate the cause of children with cancer in Syria. The only event that I regret to have missed was an evening with the renowned Syrian poet Nazih abu-Afash. The reason was simply: total exhaustion.

 

One downside to this visit though: I intensely missed Sidra and Rafif. A separation that lasted for a fortnight proved to be more than what I was prepared to withstand.

Tajweed at the Claremont College

Last week we came back from a trip to California. I was invited there by the Claremont College to give a speech. It also included an interview with the Los Angeles Times.

As usual, meetings with the community and friends constituted the highpoints of the trip. The list of friends we met there included Selma and Hazem Chihabi; Lara and  Robert Rezko; Dina and Habib Lahlouh; Barabara and Adnan Asswad, Ghada and Ray Irani; Hassan and Mrs. Mushammel; Talal and Mrs. Baidoun; and Ihsan and Mrs. Nizam.

Sidra also had lots of fun running along the strand of Laguna Beach.

 

 

 

One of the outstanding experiences I had there was when professor Bassam Franjieh of the Claremont College brought his Arabic language students (30 plus young American women and men) to greet me, and to my big surprise and bemusement they all joined in a choired recital of two Quran verses: 'al-Fatiha' and, and the famous ‘You have your religion and I have mine’. - memorized by heart and sung according to the best tajweed traditions. Very civilized indeed.

Sidra's Second Birthday

Our little tsunami has become two. On celebrating her second birthday we were celebratng two years of love, joy and laughter.

 

 

Friends and More Friends

Our residence at Kalorama continues to be a meeting place for friends of Syria (and of ours as well). The range of guests included US congressmen as well as neighbors. Some live here, others were visitors from Syria.

My old buddy and classmate Abdullah Dummar visited us from New York, and spent the week-end with us. Sidra had a great time with him, while Rafif and I enjoyed eating his mother's makdous (stuffed eggplants). During Abdullah's stay with us, Dr. Nicola Shaheen and his family who were visiting from Damascus had dinner with us. Dr. Shaheen, the renowned plastic surgeon, is famous for his dexterity in making ladies more beautiful than they already are, but very few know that he is also a witty, engaging and erudite schmoozer.

My former boss, the President of the University of Damascus, who was also the former Minister of Higher Education in Syria, Dr. Hani Mortada, was gracious enough to come specially to Washington to spend a day with us.We spent our times reminiscing about our erstwhile academic lives and catching up on friends and family.

Also from New York, Ibrahim al-Fadel and his family came with his sister Dr. Rayya al-Fadel and her husband Dr. Mahmoud Kheir-Beik to visit us. Ibrahim is the son of the late former President of the Damascus University, Mouhammad al-Fadel, and he is a prominent scientist and intellectual in his own right.

Rafif and I also enjoyed having for dinner at our place a number of US congressmen, ambassadors and other friends. This included Rep. Nick Rahall, Rep. Charles Boustany, Rep. Dennis Kucinich, the ambassadors of Iceland and Oman, professor Alan Merton the president of George Mason and professor Nasser Rabbat of MIT.

My dear firend Raja Sidawi also came from Paris for a short visit. A dinner to honour him included, among others, Seymour Hersh of the New Yorker, Heleen Cooper of the New York Times, Michael Van Dusen of the Wilson Institute, Robert Mally of the International Crisis Group and Safa Rifka of the ADC.

For a highly 'intellectual' dinner we also had 18 professors and scholars from the Syrian Studies Association. This included old friends like David Leasch and Annie Higgins, as well as new ones. 

Among the new friends we had also at our house were Dr. Amer al-Azem, the professor of Archeology at Brigham Young and his wife Joumana. Amer happens also to be the son of Dr. Sadeq Jalal al-Azm the renowned scholar and philosopher.

Finaly, the indefatigable Joshua Landis with his parents, wife Manar and two sons added our house to his Syria Comment list of dangerous places. Yet, we had fun with the Landises.

From Israel to the Children of Gazza with Love