On the “closure” of MEI by the CB of AGBU

Years of pregnant silence at last has given birth to an announcement by the AGBU Central Board on the “closure” of MEI in June 2005.

Despite years of unconvincing “official” and “unofficial” denials and ambiguous utterances, the Board must have been working all along, on the justification of their dark decision and at last, they seem to have mustered enough courage to make the fatal announcement. Fatal to whom however, is the question.

Since we are told that this decision was taken unanimously, each Board member whose signature appears on the declaration, is under eternal condemnation of the Armenian people, whether the decision in effect succeeds or not.

Democratic Governments and organizations have several levels of checks and balances for their decision making process, for all to see. In governing a country, there is usually at least one opposition party. The Armenian people deserve to know who provided the checks and balances and counterarguments for the process of decision making of the AGBU for the closure of MEI?

They explain: “this decision is largely based on the Board's conclusion that MEI no longer meets the challenges of its mission in the present context of the Armenian world.”

This statement of the closure sounds as ambiguous as the denials that we were fed for a long time! Can anyone explain what the mission of the MEI was in which it has not succeeded, according to the Board?

The Board's “Armenian world” must undoubtedly be a different one from the one we ordinary Armenians live in, simply because the “Armenian world” that we have communicated with, does not want any changes brought to the MEI.

As far as we can make out, the mission of the MEI has been to teach the set curriculum under the AGBU. This, MEI has accomplished with enviable distinction. Everything else fell within the jurisdiction of the AGBU, which leads one to conclude that they have miserably failed in meeting the challenges of their mission.

The AGBU CB have failed in meeting the challenges of their mission by not publicizing effectively the MEI to the Armenian communities in the Middle East, in Europe and North America.
They have failed in meeting the challenges of their own mission, by their silence during the last few years, when rumours were flying in the news media and among communities of the possible closure, damaging the prospects of student registration.

They have failed in meeting the challenges of their mission by keeping silence against articles written in the newspapers claiming the “low standards of education” of the MEI.

With the “final” decision, they have failed in meeting the challenges of their own mission by not upholding the desires of the Melkonian brothers which is the continuity of the MEI, clearly outlined in their Will for anyone to see.

As for the paragraph fleetingly mentioning “the spirit of their (meaning the Melkonian brothers') donation to AGBU” , it remains to be legally proven whether it is a “donation” or a trust.

Even if it were proved to be a “donation,” the desires of the Benefactors are clearly outlined in their Will, which makes no provision for closure, only continuity. This puts AGBU under moral obligation to honor the letter and the spirit of the Will.

We are now subjected to press releases by the AGBU trying to explain their side of the story which is more than welcome, except that a recitation of historical background and recent events leading to “demographic shifts” being presented as an explanation to the decision making process for the closure of MEI ignores or avoids the central issue which is the following:

Donations to organizations such as the AGBU come under two basic categories. First, a “straight donation” to the AGBU, to be used as they will. Second, a donation with a Will or a guideline to be followed in the management of the funds donated, in which case the Organization becomes the Trustees of such a donation. Those funds cannot be used as if they were a straight donation for projects outside of the Will of the benefactors. Even if the claim is that, the Melkonian capital fund and the properties were donations, they have a will attached to them, which takes them out of the realm of a “straight donation.”

The AGBU can have no excuse claiming that the “running of the MEI has a million dollars-plus deficit.” The Will clearly states that the Institute has to run on the interest accrued from the capital funds donated for the cause. Statements such as the above therefore are misleading and confuse the true picture. Melkonian brothers had made sure that the Institute ran free of deficit under its own steam.

To the keen observer, the arguments and points presented in the press release by the AGBU, highlight the deficiencies and inadequacies of the approach adopted for the running of the MEI, rather than a justifiable cause for its closure.

If the AGBU has lost interest in running the MEI, in compliance with the Will, they should turn over its administration, funds and properties to an Organization without delay, which is ready and willing to continue, having the “Will” as the guideline for such an operation. That Organization I propose is the Melkoniantsi International, a confederation of all the world Melkoniantsi alumni. We need new vision and new blood to continue the legacy of the Melkonian brothers into the future. We the Alumni are the true heirs of the Benefactors' vision and wisdom. In this way only, the AGBU, quoting from their own announcement, may “recognize and honor the continued legacy of the visionary Melkonian Brothers ...”

The swift and vigorous response, the unity of purpose of the World Alumni against the “closure” is enough proof that the MEI has more than met the challenges of its mission. Moreover, we are absolutely committed to stopping any attempts at the destruction of one of the jewels of our national culture and centre of learning. In this, we not only have the undivided support of all the Armenian people but international support from the Government of Cyprus.

In my opinion it will be in AGBU's interest to let go of MEI soon, rather than cling to it till June 2005, or even rethink their decision. The events of the last few years have irreparably dismantled the trust that existed between the parties involved.

With vision, even a hopeless situation may be turned into victory for all concerned. The greatest winner out of all this will be our embattled nation.