A. Circulating Views about MEI’s Future

Some views suggest the relocation of MEI to Armenia, Lebanon or Bulgaria. These people are unaware of the unique advantages of MEI being in Cyprus.
Armenia (Developing country): It is grappling with economic and political problems that require a few decades to be resolved. Although visits of youth groups to Armenia will always be attractive, it is unlikely that Diasporan communities will send their children to a boarding school in Armenia. Besides, a thriving and strong Diaspora is very important for the future development of Armenia. It is the Diaspora that needs a school like MEI.
Lebanon (Developing country): It has been, and will be, in a politically hot area. It is true that the Armenian community is large and dynamic but local circumstances are limiting. Local politics and insecurity, added to the general instability in the Middle East, does not create confidence for people to send their children to a boarding school there. AGBU already has schools that satisfy the needs of the Lebanese Armenians.
Bulgaria (Developing country): It has a long way to go before being considered as a suitable location as compared to Cyprus. A local school may be very suitable for the people of Plovdiv, where most Armenians live. But how can it attract students from all the other Armenian communities in the wide region?
Cyprus (Developed country): Though they are a small community, the Armenians of Cyprus are Armenian speaking and have preserved the traditions and values of our culture. Moreover, the island itself is European, attractive, safe and has congenial climate.
MEI lavishly enjoys the support and generosity of the Cypriot government: Maximum individual subsidies to Cypriot-Armenian students; special grants to the school and more to come.
MEI has the unique freedom and encouragement of the Cypriot government to offer in-depth instruction in Armenian and to preserve all the symbols of the Armenian identity, such as language, literature, history, art, traditions, values and customs. This advantage is not found anywhere else in the world.

MEI is primarily serving the Diasporan communities where more Armenians live than in Armenia, a total of 4,934,611. MEI is at the heart of more than 3.5 million Armenians living in the region outside Armenia. (The survey published in August 1999 by the Republic of Armenia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs shows the following figures for Armenians living outside Armenia: Russia/CIS = 2,446,000; N. America = 1,050,000; W. Europe = 547,006; Middle East = 490,240; S. America = 172,650; E. Europe = 182,500; Oceania = 45,600; F. East = 355; Africa = 260)

Others propose its relocation in Cyprus in an isolated remote place on cheaper land, without considering its ramification on students’ social life and their integration with the local community. Nor the fact that the Melkonian Brothers are also buried on the school site. The location of all prestigious educational institutions is on prime property, yet their relocation is never an issue, no matter how highly valued the price of their present property is. (Would American University of Beirut or Cambridge University or Harvard University sell their sites and build more modern complexes in cheaper areas?)

The third view is closing down MEI, selling its property and redistributing those funds to various AGBU projects. It would be a great mistake to decide to close down a thriving and successful educational institution that has and still can have unique contribution to Armenians. Moreover, such an eventuality will jeopardise the future of more than 200 students who have no opportunities of being mainstreamed in schools in their countries due to the major differences between the British curriculum at MEI and their local ones.