Date: Tue, 16 Dec 2003 18:53:10 -0800 (PST)
From: Nurel Beylerian
Subject: Your Article about Melkonian EI - The Truth and the Whole Truth
To: Armenianreporter@msn.com

Mr. Boghosian:

As you already know, your article has created quite a stir among those who care about the fate of Melkonian Educational Institute (MEI), the "venerable institution," as you call it.

I trust that you have been motivated by a genuine desire to be fair to all sides. I also appreciate that you were the first to recognize the importance of the
issue by giving it valuable space in the Armenian Reporter.

I, for one, do not hold you responsible if we disagree with some of the points you have made. Certainly, your views are based on your knowledge of the case, and you are far more knowledgeable than the general Armenian public. Therefore, I consider it our responsibility, as alumni of the school, to ensure that you have full
information. To this end, I would like to submit to you some comments about various points you have raised.

1. Let us start with your comment that school alumni have not shown interest. That is not true, of course, but it has to be explained.

An absolute majority of Melkonian alumni have known only Mr. Alec Manoogian as the President of the AGBU, and we have had absolute faith in Mr. Manoogian! In fact, exactly 30 years ago Mr. Manoogian, himself, formed the AGBU Alumni Association. Some of us were privileged to be present and be inspired by him at
that first meeting. As far as the alumni were concerned, with Mr. Manoogian at the helm, nothing could ever go wrong with the AGBU or any organization
being managed by the AGBU.

We should also note that initially, the AGBU Alumni Association included alumni of two other major schools, Hovagimian-Manoogian and Tarouhi Hagopian of Beirut. Unfortunately, alumni of these two schools did not stick around long, and only Melkonian alumni continued as an organized group. (Please do not let anyone suggest that these two schools should be sold and the income used for other purposes because their alumni are not interested!)

The California Melkonian alumni group, being the largest, has traditionally taken the lead role, as they still do. Through their efforts, an endowment fund was established many year ago to help MEI financially, and this fund continues to grow. If there had been a request from the AGBU to grow this fund even faster, I am sure we could and would have done so. Instead, the only official message we get from the AGBU is that MEI is not a financial concern.

A few years ago, part of the Melkonian land was sold in Cyprus, and there were no objections from the alumni, perhaps suggesting that they did not care.
Wrong again!

Remember, all alumni have lived in Cyprus, some up to six years. We understand the concerns of the Cyprus government. When, as a result of the Turkish occupation, the capital city of Nicosia started expanding southward, the school lands became prime property. Generally, alumni felt that it would be
politically incorrect if we did not make some of the unused land available for development. Although many of us were saddened, I think it was politically the
correct thing to do. Remember also that, since independence, Cyprus has been an important political ally of Armenia; and Melkonian plays a key role in that equation. Any damage to MEI also damages the political ties between Armenia and Cyprus.

2. Your comments about the difficulty of maintaining high scholastic standards.

Don't believe every lie you are told! This problem has been solved at MEI for over fifty years. All graduating students are expected to take GCE examinations, some at advanced level and some at ordinary level. If Melkonian graduates are good
enough to enter British Universities, they are good enough for anyone!

In fact, all Melkonian graduates who have gone on to University will tell you that their high-school education lasted them for over a year at their institutions of higher learning.

3. Regarding your statement that the Melkonians did not leave a will, but a contract.

You and I may be wrong, but I agree with you. So, let us make sure that the terms of the contract are honored. While some may think that the contract is too skimpy, I think there is ample explanation of the intent of the benefactor. And if we ever need it, "intent" is what the courts will look for.

4. Regarding your statement that the AGBU "is totally free to do with it whatever... deems necessary"

Now that we have agreed we have a contract on our hands, we have to agree that the terms of the contract must be honored.

In fact, the Melkonians have already set the precedent, which is something that courts will be interested in.

The original donation was to the Patriarchate of Istanbul, but when it turned out that due to changes in the political situation this organization could no longer perform, the gift was transferred to the AGBU, "to provide for the better management and administration of these establishments and to ensure their continued existence..." Can anyone come up with stronger words to make the intent of the benefactor clear?

In fact, Aga Garabed Melkonian wanted to ensure that his "establishment" would last even beyond the AGBU! In case AGBU's "existence and support becomes impossible following unforeseen happenings..." the Catholicos in Etchmiadzin is empowered to appoint individuals and "these managers so appointed will continue to allocate the said revenue to the purpose specified in the deed." And the purpose is defined as "ensure the education of poor young Armenians."

No court in any civilized country will overrule the intent of the benefactor, when it is stated this clearly. Not the USA, not Switzerland, not Egypt, and not Cyprus. Well, may be Turkey. After all, they tried to eliminate the school the Turkish way, by bombing it in 1974.

(If, upon reconsidering its role, the AGBU decides that managing a school like MEI is no longer where it wants to put its effort, then the "unforeseen happenings" mentioned in the contract will have materialized, and there will be legal grounds for the AGBU to ask the Catholicos to implement the alternate solution foreseen by Aga Garabed)

5. Your comments about the "contentious issue about the use of... income that a commercial development... brings"

The contract states very clearly in Section G.V., "The whole of the property and receivables will be used for the following charitable activities... Maintenance of Melkonian, already founded..." and several other interesting ideas, which have not been realized, presumably because sufficient funds have not been available.

Then, in the same section it states that after selling assets, securities must be invested half in the Bank of England and half at the US Federal Bank in DC, and
"Only the interest and income from this capital will be devoted to and used in the service of the above-mentioned goals."

Thus, it is absolutely clear that Aga Garabed wanted all assets that were converted into cash to become part of the capital. Again, the benefactor's intent is clear, and there are no contentious issues here.

Thank you, again, Mr. Boghosian, for taking the fate of Melkonian Educational Institute seriously and devoting valuable space in your paper.

Nurel Beylerian, Ph.D., PE
Toronto, CANADA