H.E. Mr Tassos Papadopoulos                              Open  Letter  mailed  and

President of Republic of Cyprus                           its  facsimile  transmitted  to

Presidential   Palace                                               357  22  86  75 94     through

Dem.  Severis  Avenue                                          33.1.42 24 46 39 – 5th of April  2004

1400 Nicosia  Cyprus

                                                                                    

Your Excellency,

We, Citizens of the Americas, European countries and Lebanon bring to your attention a decision made by the Central Board of Directors of the Armenian General Benevolent Union, based in New York City, the United States of America. This decision violates Human Rights in the territory of the sovereign Republic of Cyprus. We have affixed our names, titles and addresses to this letter and urgently request your help to correct this injustice.

In fact,

·        The Central Board of Directors of the Armenian General Benevolent Union, an Armenian philanthropic organisation, based in New York City (hereinafter referred to as AGBU - CBD) is in charge of the management of the Melkonian Educational Institute  (hereinafter referred to as MEI). The MEI, a pre-eminent Armenian educational institution, was established in 1926 in Nicosia, Cyprus according to the Will – Testament of Melkonian Benefactor Brothers and has educated Armenian students from all over the world ever since. However, the AGBU-CBD, in a news release issued on  March 16th, 2004, announced plans to close the school in June of 2005.

·        The MEI is a special international educational institution not only for Cypriot Armenians but for all Armenians settled in some 180 countries worldwide. The mission of this institution is to offer education to adolescents and to carry out  the transmission of Western Armenian cultural values especially  to all  Armenians. If this mission has become obsolete, as stated by the AGBU-CBD, that would clearly mean that the AGBU-CBD itself has failed to carry out its responsibility of efficient management and oversight.

Moreover,

·        The MEI’s Benefactors’ Will – transferred from an Armenian institution to the AGBU for international political reasons -- does not confer to the AGBU the ownership of the belongings, mentioned therein.

·        The Will does stipulate for the AGBU the prerogative of the MEI’s management and the allocation of subsidies drawn from the Melkonian Funds to three other Armenian institutions devoted mainly to education and socio-cultural development of  Armenians, mainly in the context of Western Armenian realities and aspirations. 

·        The Melkonian Brothers' Will does not confer to the AGBU the right to denature or  to destroy these Armenian structures. Therefore the closure of the MEI is not among the prerogatives of the AGBU-CBD. In addition, dismantling the MEI would infringe on the educational rights of all Armenian communities worldwide and adversely impact the cultural dynamics that it maintains with other cultures around the world.   More precisely, the closure of the MEI is a direct violation of the Human Rights of  Armenian communities, and if allowed to proceed, this violation will take place in  the territory of the sovereign Republic of Cyprus.

 Your Excellency, we respectfully request that you invalidate any decision directed to the closure of the MEI (Melkonian Educational Institute) and stop the process of selling off its physical facilities (real estate) which are under the jurisdiction of the sovereign Republic of Cyprus.

 We, and hundreds of Armenians and non-Armenians of different professions and socio-economic conditions from the Americas, Asia, Australia and European countries, have already addressed a letter to the AGBU-CBD asking for an explanation of their decision which is contrary to the Will of the Melkonian Benefactor Brothers and is in violation of Human Rights – please find the copy of that letter, herewith attached.  For this matter concerns not only the Melkonian Alumni in Cyprus and abroad or  the Cyprus Armenian Community, but it is the concern of all persons worldwide who respect Human Rights.

We hope that under your leadership, appropriate authorities in Cyprus will act not to allow in your country any violation of Human Rights that impacts Armenian communities, both in Cyprus and around the World.

 Your  Excellency Mr President of Republic, we look forward to your favourable timely action for the preservation of Human Rights, and

 Remain truly yours

 Our names,  surnames,  titles and addresses are  attached  herewith.

 Attachment: copy of a letter to the AGBU-CBD

 Copy to all mass media and related bodies in Cyprus and abroad.              

 

Dr. Bernard Andréassian – Professor  of Surgery  ; University of Paris Alumnus  ;

Croissy s/Seine France.

Nathalie Andréassian – Magistrate ; Law School  – University of Paris and National School of Magistrates Alumnus ;  Crossy s/Seine, France.

Dr Renée Andréassian – Psychologist ; University of Paris Alumnus ;
 Croissy s/Seine, France.

John Arrowsmith – Jounalist – Textproducer BBC World Service ;
West Wickham . Kent UK

Thierry Cornavin – Legal adviser and Faculty member at the Law School, University of Paris- Sorbonne Alumnus ;  Boulogne, France.

Xavier Coron – Legal Adviser ; University of Paris Law School ; Alumnus ;
 Croissy s/Seine, France.

René Doyard – Engineer MSc. ; A.DG at Executive Management of (Bank )BNP PARISBAS ; Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Télécommunication (ENST-Paris . France) and Stanford University (CA.USA) Alumnus ;  Paris, France.

Minas Der-Sarkissian – Internationa Petroleum Company Accountant (retired) ;  MEI and AUB Alumnus ;  Maisons Alfort, France.

Dr Haikoui Damlamian – Surgean Dentist (retired)  ; Tebrotzasserre and University of Paris Alumnus  ;  Paris, France.

Edwards Anthony Fisher – Economist, CTA of Gamma World Network, specialist for international Systems of Education ; Cambridge University Alumnus and member of  Pro Educatio  ;  Herts U.K.

Kourken Gordzounian – International Tradesman ; Member of AGBU ;
PARIS, France.

Souren Gordzounian – International Businessman ; Member of AGBU ;
Paris, France.

Shahé Guébénlian – Journalist, and International Management member of  R e u t e r s  for many years  (retired) ; MEI and English School of Nicosia Cyprus Alumnus ;
London  U.K.

Sabine Haas – Gamma Institutes Presidential Assistant ;  Litterature & Philology M.Sc. – University of Hamburg Alumnus ; and member of Pro Educatio ;  
Athens, Greece.                              

Bedros Hadjian – Armenologist, teacher and writer, Director of Armenian High Schools: Karen Jeppe in Syria and Saint Illuminator in Argentina ;
Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Kevork Kevorkian -  Electronics & Telecommuntion  Engineer (retired ) ; Ecole Polytechnique de Lausanne (Switzerland) and MEI Alumnus, and member ofPro Educatio  ;
St Germain en Laye, France.

Koharig Kevorkian – Teacher in  British School system, and multilingual Secretery for International business  (retired) ; MEI Alumnus and member of Pro Educatio  ;
Paris, France.

 Anahid Maranci – Teacher ; Massachusetts State University Teachers’ College Alumnus and member of Pro Educatio ; 1488 Beacon street. Brookline MA 02446, U.S.A.

 Dr Arutun Maranci – Engineer, Research Scientist (retired) ; Sahakian Nounian, Getronagan, Istanbul University, North Eastern University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Alumnus, and member of Pro Educatio ;
MA , U.S.A..

 Dr Christina Maranci – Professor of Art History University of Wisconsin ; Vassar College and Princeton University Alumnus ;
Shorewood WI, U.S.A.

Daniel Maranci – Attorney-at-Law ; Bates College and Suffolk University Law School Alumnus ;
Needham MA, U.S.A.  

 Peter  Maranci- Computer Specialist ; Allegheny College Alumnus ;
 Woonsocket RI U.S.A.

 Marie - Chouchane Maslak – (Agrégée d’Anglais)  High School Teacher of English language and litterature ; University of Paris Alumnus ;
 Orgeval,  France.

Philippe Mermod – Electronics & Telecommunication Engineer, Professor of Telecommunication (retired) ; Ecole Polytechnique de Lausanne Alumnus and member of Pro Educatio;
 Ittigen (Switzerland).

Dr. Claude Armen Moutafian – Faculty member of Universities, specialist of the Armenian International Relations’ History ; Ecole Normale Supérieure (Nationale School of Education) and University of Paris Alumnus  ;
Paris, France.

Dr Nicholas Nicholaidis – President of Gamma Institut, Public Administration specialist for long term planning ; Athens and San Diego Universities Alumnus ;
Athens, Greece.

Dalita Roger-Hacyan – Agrégée d’Anglais, Professor of  English language and litterature at the University of Paris I. Panthéon Sorbonne  ; University of Paris Alumnus  ;
L’Hay les Roses, France.

Stephanie Oréngo – Architect ; National school of Architecture Alumnus ;
Viroflay, France ;

Nourhan Ouzounian – Teacher, Head of Mathematics & Science Departement at the American College in Beyrouth and in Montreal High School (retired) ;  Essayan, Getronagan, University of Istanbul Alumnus ;
Montreal. Que.  Canada.

 Dr. Vartan Ozinian – Material Sc. Engineer and Economist, Adviser for International matters  ;  Research fellow at Harvard and MIT (Cambrige, MA), R I T (Stockholm), R&D for an internatonal Co.  ;  Faculty member of Universities and civil servants’ International Institutes for Econometrics and H.R. Development, Context of civilizations & cultures  ; Evangelical School, Getronagan, Istanbul University, Sorbonne, National School for Oriental languages, IEP – Paris School of Political Sciences Alumnus and member of  Pro Educatio ;
Boulogne, France.

Nora Tchilinguir – Paris Law School Faculty member ;  University of Paris Alumnus, member of Pro Educatio ;
Boulogne, France.

Claude Villemant – Electronics Engineer, Telecommunication Technologies’ R&D specialist  ;
Paris, France.

………….

 

Copy of a letter herewith attached

Registered letter express mailed  from Paris, March  18th  2004

And transmitted by Fax 1212 319 650 7 /8 – 18.03.2004 

           

Board of Directors of AGBU
Through Mr. Berge Setrakian, President
55 East 59th Street
NEW YORK City, NY10022-1112  USA
 

Hon. Members of the Board.

 

We have the honour to bring to your attention our request concerning MELKONIAN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTE based in Nicosia Cyprus. Please find our names, attributes and addresses at the end of this letter signed by:
 

1- Members of the Armenian General Benevolent Union, hereinafter referred to as AGBU;
 

2- Graduates and former students of the Melkonian Educational Institute established in Cyprus, hereinafter referred to as MEI, as well as other members of MEI Alumni now spread in several countries world-wide but morally affiliated to their Alma Mater in Cyprus;
 

3- Members of the Armenian Communities in the Diaspora and non-Armenians deemed to be of concern in the subject;

Its contents formulate a request , as expounded here below :  

 

A-          We duly have followed and continue to follow the news, comments and statements related to multiple aspects of a Western Armenian crisis, which in fact threatens to liquidate the MEI and sell its physical amenities and real estate belonging to the MEI fund. However, none of the above mentioned information has so far been officially confirmed or denied by the AGBU’s Board of Directors – the principal authority bearing responsibility in this matter.

B- We are conscious of the importance at stake, relating to the MEI,  in its direct impact upon the Western Armenian cultural and educational existence : Fundamental factors in the human rights of Armenian Communities worldwide. Therefore we call upon you to clarify the actual situation of this matter, in view of the fact that the management of the MEI is entrusted to the AGBU by its founders’ WILL legalising its position. Your urgent reply would allow us to understand the exact extend of the outlook of the AGBU’s commitment as defined by the directives set out within the said document entitled Deed of Assignment and Transfer, dated the 28th of December 1925, and known as the MELKONIAN BENEFECTOR BROTHERS TESTAMENT.

 

We shall be grateful for your reply, before the 30th of March 2004, to the request formulated above. In case of the non-receipt of an explicit answer, we would be bound to consider to proceed to an appropriate legal action.
 

Translation of this letter into Armenian, Greek and French have been copied to persons, government personalities, media representatives and organisations deemed to be of concern and interested in the subject.

Your reply to this letter will be distributed to all signatories by  

K. Kevorkian –   Paris  France.

Yours truly      

 

 

 Name - Surname                    Attribute                      Address              Date            Signature       

 320 signatures

 

 

 

….……..

For further information please contact Dr. Ozinian (100, rue Chardon Lagache. 75016 Paris . France).