- Commercial deals on hold

 Nicosia, June 15, 2005 – The Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople and Turkey, Mesrob Mutafyan, has filed a court injunction against the AGBU to overturn the decision to close the Melkonian Educational Institute in Nicosia.

 The interim order, issued on June 7, also forbids the AGBU or its agents in Cyprus from selling or developing any part of the school’s estate on the busy Limassol Avenue.

 The AGBU has managed the property, as well as the secondary boarding school and decided last year that the school would close in June 2005. This decision was challenged by parents and members of the school’s worldwide alumni, as it is the only institution of its kind in the enlarged European Union, while also teaching the Armenian language and culture to youngsters from eastern Europe and the Middle East.

 The injunction follows a recent court action filed by the Patriarch in Nicosia District Court, challenging the AGBU’s decision to close 79-year old school, in violation of the initial trust set up by the school’s founder, Garabed Melkonian.

 The new injunction also demands that the AGBU accounts for all amounts collected from the management of the estate as well as any amount collected during the past eight decades.

 Finally, the Patriarch also demands that the transfer of the estate’s deed to the AGBU be considered null and void and that this should be transferred to the Patriarch in trust for the Armenian communities of Cyprus and the region, as well as the Armenian Diaspora as a whole.

 The injunction order has been served on the AGBU in New York and copies have been handed to their representative in Cyprus, Gordon Anderson, the school’s Principal and the school’s secretariat.

 In a statement issued Wednesday, the Melkonian Alumni in Cyprus and concerned parents hailed the court order saying that «justice will take its course».

 This, they said, raises hopes that the school could be saved and may even resume operations in September.

 «Many wanted to grab part of the school’s estate, either to develop commercially, or to build luxury homes or even sports facilities. But what they had in mind was not in the best interest of the school or the students and should forget any plans they may have, thanks to the injunction order,» said Shavasb Bohdjalian, Chairman of the Alumni Association in Cyprus.

 «We are sending a message to all concerned of ‘Hands of the Melkonian’,» added the association’s vice-chairman Masis der Parthogh.

 He explained that the Ministry of Interior had issued a protection order on some 60% of the school’s estate, declaring the twin historic buildings erected in 1925, as well as the small forest along Limassol Avenue, as a national heritage site.

 Der Parthogh added that with the new court order, anybody planning to develop any part of the school’s property, or change the spirit of the establishment of the trust, ie. operating a boarding secondary school offering primarily Armenian education, would be in violation of a court order and could face jail.

 Alumni, parents and friends have united to challenge the AGBU’s decision to close the school and have found support in the people of Cyprus, the government and the House of Representatives.

 The House unanimously adopted a resolution in March 2004 saying that the Melkonian school should remain and that any decision intended to change this situation would be considered as a «hostile act,» while the House Education Committee reopened discussion on the matter a few weeks ago, demanding that the AGBU reveal all its plans regarding its decision to close the Melkonian.