AGBU rep confirms Melkonian closure

...Alumni committed to resistance

A representative of the Armenian foundation that runs the Melkonian Institute in Nicosia has suggested that the 78-year-old school will close and that measures are being taken to accommodate the 200 or so students in other schools.

In a paid advertorial that appeared in the Cyprus Weekly on Friday, Gordon Anderson, the American representative of the Armenian General Benevolent Union  said that in order to provide education for the local children who are forced to leave if the school shuts its doors, “several options are being considered so that the children will have the opportunity to gain an education that will have an Armenian component -- namely, language, culture and heritage.”

In the same advertorial he adds that for the overseas students, as the Melkonian is the only boarding school of its kind in the Middle East and Europe, the AGBU help them find alternative sources of education of the same level as that offered by the Melkonian, because “AGBU has a commitment to all children of the Diaspora.”

The AGBU NY has hired Marketway to act as its PR firm in Cyprus to boost its image and quash strong opposition from the local Armenian Community against the plans to shut down the school and whisk the proceeds from the land sale out of the country.

The Cyprus government, all political parties and leading Greek Cypriot personalities support the efforts of the Armenian community to keep the Melkonian open, since they consider the Melkonian as part of the national heritage and culture of the island.

Last month, the cabinet, headed by President Tassos Papadopoulos allocated an additional aid package towards efforts to keep the Melkonian in Cyprus in a development which will further embarrass the US-based leadership of the AGBU, who until recently were insisting that the Melkonian was not for sale.

The school’s alumni, which is now spearheading the campaign to keep the Melkonian open, views with deep suspicions another comment made by AGBU NY Rep, Anderson that “if the decision is taken to close the respected institution, the AGBU will discuss and explore alternative possibilities for the facilities with other educational establishments and the government”

The school’s alumni, representing over a thousand graduates who are spread around the world, said the issue was not the compatibility of the Melkonian’s mission within the AGBU’s global plans, as the school has its own goals. It was founded as a separate institute and until recently had its own trust fund that seems to have been absorbed within the millions of the New York-based group’s working capital.

“We are currently seeking legal advice from firms in Nicosia and intend to incorporate others with international expertise to strengthen our defence,” the alumni said.

“It is not just a matter of the sale of the land and the flight of some 80 million dollars to the U.S. in violation of a 1926 will by the founders, but also abuse of the rights of Armenian children who are being deprived their human right to a fair education based on their cultural heritage.

“The E.U. has recognised Armenian as a minority language thanks to the efforts from Cyprus, for which Greek Cypriot MPs worked in unison with the local community. This means that it will be easier to secure additional funding from Brussels or other European sources to ensure the school’s viability.

“Worst of all, however, is that clear cut proposals have been sent to New York since last December, with the AGBU Central Board refusing to discuss ways to save the school as their main aim is to take the money and run. All this talk about cooperating with other institutions, research centres and even universities is a public relations gimmick that aims to mislead the Cyprus government in allowing the sale and subsequent export of the funds.”