President of the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) Perch Sedrakian held a briefing on April 8. The reporters were mainly targeting the issue of closing the Melkonian college in Cyprus which was surprising and unexpected.

He was probably surprised by the strict questions of the reporters which eventually were not properly answered.

The reporters wanted to know the real reasons for closing the college. Sedrakian stated that it was a very hard decision for AGBU, but the college no longer carried out its mission.

Although there is an issue of preserving identity among the youth abroad, but the emigration of Armenians from Near East has dramatically reduced the number of pupils. In addition, Armenia has become independent and they plan to open a school here.

Sedrakian stated: “AGBU is convinced that it is the homeland that links the youth.” However, it is hard to compare the possible importance of the school to be opened here and Melkonian college established in 1926 which was carrying out an important mission for Armenians and not only.

Sedrakian ignored the accusation that the real reason for closing the college is the disappearance of a part of the college archive and several million dollars. He also ignored the reporters’ demand to publicize the last will of Karapet Melkonian which is supposed to regulate the closing issues of the college. The thing is that the will forbids AGBU to sell the lands of the college or close the school even in case the college goes broke.

Sedrakian only said that it is not true that they plan to sell the college. There is still no decision on the future of the property.
As to the claim of a number of Melkonian graduates to sue AGBU for the decision, Sedrakian said that it is not the first case of court suit but it will not influence the decision.