Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Mevlana in Brazil

By Ayse Karabat - Today's Zaman - Istanbul, Turkey

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Ankara: Brazilian Ambassador Cesario Melantonio Neto looks forward to THY’s [Türk Hava Yollari] direct flights to Brazil, hoping that not only will this increase trade, but that there will also be more cultural exchanges between Brazil and Turkey.

Mr. Ambassador is so excited about direct flights between Turkey and Brazil which “will hopefully start at the beginning of next year.” These will not just be passenger flights but also cargo ones, so trade and tourism will increase. He hopes that more Brazilian football clubs will come to Turkey, as well as music groups, exhibitions and so on.

There are already a number of Brazilian music groups regularly coming to Turkey, this means there is a direct link between the musicians of the two countries, he says.

Mr. Ambassador likes Sufi music and he says he is not unique in this matter in Brazil. He says that recently he met with a Brazilian professor who is an expert on Sufism. The professor told the Ambassador that, “It is a trend in Brazil to be interested in Sufism and the Brazilians are really reading about it.”

He explains: “This mix of Sufism or religion with a cultural approach, dance and music is very special and interesting. I am very interested in sharing this part of your culture. We are working on a project, a Mevlana exhibition in Brazil.”

[picture: Mr Cesario Melantonio Neto, Brazilian Ambassador to Turkey]

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Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Mevlana in Brazil
By Ayse Karabat - Today's Zaman - Istanbul, Turkey

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

Ankara: Brazilian Ambassador Cesario Melantonio Neto looks forward to THY’s [Türk Hava Yollari] direct flights to Brazil, hoping that not only will this increase trade, but that there will also be more cultural exchanges between Brazil and Turkey.

Mr. Ambassador is so excited about direct flights between Turkey and Brazil which “will hopefully start at the beginning of next year.” These will not just be passenger flights but also cargo ones, so trade and tourism will increase. He hopes that more Brazilian football clubs will come to Turkey, as well as music groups, exhibitions and so on.

There are already a number of Brazilian music groups regularly coming to Turkey, this means there is a direct link between the musicians of the two countries, he says.

Mr. Ambassador likes Sufi music and he says he is not unique in this matter in Brazil. He says that recently he met with a Brazilian professor who is an expert on Sufism. The professor told the Ambassador that, “It is a trend in Brazil to be interested in Sufism and the Brazilians are really reading about it.”

He explains: “This mix of Sufism or religion with a cultural approach, dance and music is very special and interesting. I am very interested in sharing this part of your culture. We are working on a project, a Mevlana exhibition in Brazil.”

[picture: Mr Cesario Melantonio Neto, Brazilian Ambassador to Turkey]

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