Save Melkonian

Armenian Patriarch sues in bid to save the Melkonian

By Jean Christou

THE ARMENIAN Patriarch of Constantinople, Mesrob Mutafyan, has filed suit in Los Angeles against the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) in an attempt to prevent the closure of the Melkonian Educational Institute (MEI) in Cyprus.

According to an announcement from the Melkonian worldwide alumni, the Patriarch, who is the original trustee of the MEI, filed the suit on January 13 with the Superior Court of the State of California.

The action is being co-ordinated and mediated by the California group on behalf of the Patriarchate, a beneficiary of Garabed Melkonian’s Deed of assignment. Garabed Melkonian was one of the two sibling founders of the Nicosia-based secondary school 78 years ago.

The MEI is under threat of closure from June this year, after the AGBU, which administers some 22 Armenian schools worldwide, decided the loss-making school should close finally.

However, the alumni and other friends of the Melkonain have banded together to fight the decision, believing that the true motive of the closure is financial, given that the school is sitting on some £40 million worth of commercial real estate in the capital. The legal battle is the last chance to save the MEI and the challenge is based on the extent to which the AGBU should have control of the MEI.

Using the proceeds of the large financial gift from Garabed, the Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople, Zaven Der Yeghyayan, in 1923 established the MEI. In 1925, the Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople, with Garabed Melkonian’s concurrence, thereafter conveyed the entire gift, including the MEI, in trust to the AGBU, with the express direction and expectation that it would maintain the Institute in Cyprus and continue to educate Armenian youth, the announcement said.

“The AGBU always argued that the copy of the deed in the hands of the Alumni is in fact not the latest document in existence and that it (the AGBU) has a later copy that changes the status of the Melkonian, thus giving the AGBU the right to close the school and sell the land,” the alumni announcement said.

“The alumni, and Jack Melkonian, great nephew of Garabed Melkonian, dispute this.

“In spite of all this, the AGBU has so far refused to produce what it contests is the later will in its possession.”

During a visit to the island in November, Jack Melkonian, the great great nephew of Garabed, said he would join the fight to save the school. He said his family had a copy of the deed, which clearly states that a trust should be set up, the proceeds of which were to keep the school going.

He said there was no mention in the deed that the school should not exist, and that in fact his great great uncle was rather concerned that the school stay open. The amount donated at that time corresponded to the budget of Luxembourg, he said.

Melkonian said he had asked the AGBU to forward its document, but it had not done so by that time.

“If indeed the AGBU has a later copy of the deed of assignment, they will be forced to show it in court, or else pay the Patriarchate the money withheld over the last 79 years, no doubt with interest, and possible also have to pay additional compensation,” the alumni said, referring to the alleged non-payment of an annual sum stipulated in the Deed of Assignment.