Save Melkonian School

[situationistGaren]

Dear Armenians,

 

Please help us save the most important school that Armenians have in the world. On 16/03/04 AGBU CB has announced its decision to discontinue the Melkonian Educational Institute in June 2005, despite thousands of objections and petitions from Armenians and many Armenian organisations. But the decision of the AGBU means nothing - at the moment the odds are even and the resistance is quite powerful.

 

We need need the support of every Armenian person!!! This is a school for ALL Armenians and the issue is so complex that it reaches very important issues of justice and transparency within our own communities. The closure of Melkonian is a Pan-Armenian issue and it concerns every Armenian household and every Armenian person old and young, rich and poor.

 

If every Armenian person would contribute £10 or $10 or 10Euros... or whatever one can... we could save the school.

Please visit SaveMelkonian.org

You can read all about it there in the Documents and Diary sections. Watch TV broadcasts, listen to Radio Broadcasts.

You can contribute online through PayPal Donate securely through PayPal

 

Please help us spread this issue read and forward our Open Letter to ALL Armenians hthe Open Letter from Melkoniantsi International to ALL Armenians

Please make cories and forward to ALL of your Armenian relatives and Friends ... all Aremenians that you know.

 

Every little contribution counts and every little effort will help us keep the most unique Armenian school - MELKONIAN open forever. Please help!!!

 

Take Action NOW

[Armat]

please clarify to us why you need the money.At first it seemed the school could not operate becouse of lack of funds but now it seems "they" want to sell it becouse it is a prime real estate.

Which is which and who gave the right to "them" whoever they are to sell the school.

[situationistGaren]

All the basic details of the issue are explained in the Open Letter

A more comprehensive information is given on the website www.SaveMelkonian.org

 

Obviously "they" the AGBU CB want to discontinue the school as it costs money and as it is on a hot property. Melkoniantsis are collecting money in hope to raise a fund big enough in order to step in before June 2005 , which is the proposed date of closure

 

I hope this claries it. Read the Open Letter and read Articles and Diary at www.SaveMelkonian.org

 

all the best

[Arpa]

Dear Garen, welcome to the forum.

Your passion and concern is commendable if only highly emotional.

Before we go any further please read the following that was aired on this forum sometime ago. THere may have been many other similar stories.

Church in Bangladesh

 

http://armenians.com/forum/index.php?showt...t=0entry75196

 

You may gain much knowledge by reading Armenian history again. Somehow, for wahtever reason, ever since I became aware of this situation, we have been reading in the Armenian media, I can't help and think of the fall of Ani. I will spare the details as we all know what and how it happened. Just one point. Remember who it was that betrayed us and left ud to be devastated by the hordes. Here is my point. Yes Ani did fall, the land became very hostile and hazardous for the Armenian. They felt they had to move, find more a hospitable place. Kilikia. A thousand miles away from our ancestral homeland. Why did they not move eastward towards the heart of our homeland within Mets Hayk?

Once again, I will make this short except ask a few questions.

Where are all our schools in Kilikia?

Where are our schools in Polis?

What is happening to our schools in Halep, Beirut and other cradles of the Diaspora?

What will happen to all the institutions we are building in our newly adopted cradles?

Accordig to one report the Armenian population of Cyprus was 7000 at the highest. How many is it now? Since then many have and are still moving out, mainly to UK, Canada, America and places far away. Do you live in Cyprus? I doubt it.

I said to reread Armenian history above.

It seems some people, very few people have learned from our inglorious history and doing something about it to not repeat our mistakes again. Mind you, when we say "mistakes" we may be too harsh on oursleves, they may not have mistakes at the time, yet we may not have seen the writing on the wall, so to speak. The writing is very clear now, and we assume we can all read. I think some pwople are reading and understanding it. We have built nests in alien lands only to abandon them, some within a lifetime. The AGBU, the perennial sponsor of the Melkonian Inst. has seen fit to build their nests in our native land where it will hopefully last at least till the year 3000. They built the AUA, which at this point is doing very well praparing internationally adapt students and graduates. Would it not be wise to move the assets of the MI and merge with the AUA and make it an even stronger institution serving the natives as well as studenst from abroad be they Armenian or other?

How long do you anticipate the MI to last? Until there is not even one Armenian left in Cyprus?

Are we not tired of fighting "enemies" within and without? Is it not time to join forces and save our fighting where it belongs?

We know very well who and where they are.

[Armat]

Arpa

Very strong post and I agree with you in principal however I don't know enough about this issue to have an opinion.

[situationistGaren]

Dear Arpa and Armat,

 

Few lines of disagreement - if you may.

 

To all “historian” connoisseurs who claim to have enough knowledge of history so as to preach it to others: what is History if not merely a monologue of interpretation. What IS History? Is it not a select of specific events, selected over a multitude of other events in view of specific comprehension of causality. And WHO is it that takes upon himself the task of INTERPRETING history – are/were these individuals classless? Do they have no interest? These are just a few questions before asking “why did Armenian move not eastwards, but westwards?” If I was there and then, maybe I would be better equipped to answer your question, dear Arpa, but one thing that I would not do is to draw one-dimentional parallels or trajectories through historical occurances.

 

As regards to Melkonian Educational Institute, it is not just a school, but a cultural stronghold that is important for Europe, Middle East and Africa. It is not a day-school to serve the Cypriot Armenian community, but a Boarding school that caters for children from over 40 countries.

 

Please do not think that your proposals to sell Melkonian and invest it in Armenia are somewhat original – in fact that is what the AGBU’s vague plans are. But does the public in Armenia want that? So far they have said a big and bold “NO”. They would rather see an institution like Melkonian to continue its existence in Cyprus then to see Hanging Gardens built in Yerevan. The Armenian Government too sees existence of Melkonian as an important matter as far as its foreign policy is concerned.

 

Furthermore, Garabed Melkonian left $1.5 billion worth (in today’s money) so that “Melkonian Fund” is established and so that ONLY the annual interest from that fund go toward Melkonian school and Yerevan State University. He made specific arrangements to see Melkonian exist forever. What remains today of “Melkonian Fund” is only $5.5 million and AGBU refuses to publish reports as to what on earth happened to all that wealth.

 

More, Melkonian Brothers did not give property rights over Melkonian school to AGBU. All the rights that the AGBU has are the rights of administering the “Melkonian Fund”. The Deed of 1925 clearly states that this is the case. But AGBU, in fact, did sell a large chunk of Melkonian lands in 1986. The AGBU has no legal right to close the school, but if nobody stops them they will !!!

 

The Deed also clearly states that if AGBU goes bankrupt, or if it finds itself unable to carry the mission of Melkonian, the rights to administration of Melkonian Fund and of MEI will pass on to Echmiadzine.

 

So you can see that nobody has the right to close that school or sell any of its parts. And there were very clear arrangements to insure that the Melkonian Fund remains untouched and that Melkonian school exists forever. Now, which pockets did all that wealth of $1.5 billion go to?

 

As for me, you may stay assured that I’m not a Cypriot and I am not a member of any political party. I am, in fact, from Armenia. And, Yes, my concern for Melkonian is inspired by passion and as any matter of blatant injustice inspires passion in a politicised being. The more you read into the subject matter the more you will realise how rotten and corrupt the AGBU’s actions are.

 

That is why this is not only about “just one school in Cyprus”, but it is a tip of the iceberg – an injustice that exists within our communities and we allow its perpetuation.

 

If people want, they can go to www.SaveMelkonian.org and read all about it and donate securely there. We have issued an Open Letter to ALL Armenian persons, please download it there, read it and forward it to all Armenians that you know.

 

Thank you

 

Garen

Edited April 12, 2004 by situationistGaren

[bellthecat]

Furthermore, Garabed Melkonian left $1.5 billion worth (in today’s money) so that “Melkonian Fund” is established and so that ONLY the annual interest from that fund go toward Melkonian school and Yerevan State University. He made specific arrangements to see Melkonian exist forever. What remains today of “Melkonian Fund” is only $5.5 million and AGBU refuses to publish reports as to what on earth happened to all that wealth.

 

More, Melkonian Brothers did not give property rights over Melkonian school to AGBU. All the rights that the AGBU has are the rights of administering the “Melkonian Fund”. The Deed of 1925 clearly states that this is the case. But AGBU, in fact, did sell a large chunk of Melkonian lands in 1986. The AGBU has no legal right to close the school, but if nobody stops them they will !!!

If the AGBU does not have the legal rights to dispose of the school then what is the problem? Who is going to buy the property if the legal status of the ownership is in dispute?

 

Why is the "Deed of Assignment" in French? Does that mean it does not come under Cypriot law (since Cyprus was part of the British empire in the 1920s).

 

There was a school near where I live which the local government closed recently (amid much local oposition - but they closed it anyway). The petty politicians were all licking their lips at the prospect of spending the money they would get from the sale of the building and the grounds. Then someone discovered that they did not actually own the land, and that it had been gifted by a landowner over 150 years ago on the condidtion that a school was built on it. And if the school was removed for any reason then the ownership reverted to the descendents of the original landowner (who happened to be a local farmer). A very happy local farmer - since he is now able to reclaim property worth about a million pounds!

[situationistGaren]

the Deed of 1925, which you can read in English Translation at www.SaveMelkonian.org does not give property rights to AGBU. But in 1986 they sold half of the Melkonian land and they kept it down so that there is no question about legality. Today they claim that their actions are all legal, but we have made the Deed of Assignment available to all to read... so read it yourself and see. http://www.savemelkonian.org/docs/Will/index.htm

 

This time we must not let the AGBU to get away with its daytime robery and so the lawsuit may begin very soon and thus we are collecting funds (A) for the lawsuit ( to establish a fund great enough to run the school thereafter. That is why we are asking EVERY Armenian to spen in to prevent this injustice

http://www.savemelkonian.org/fund/index.htm

 

all the information about Melkoniantsi International Fund and its constitution can be found at http://www.savemelkonian.org/fund/fund.htm

 

The Deed of Assignment is in French because the AGBU Centre at that time was in Lausane and the Melkonian Fund (whatever remains of it) is still there.

 

As to legality and justice, let me remind everyone that it does not come for granted... one must fight and struggle in order to obtain it.

 

IF Armenians let things go, the AGBU will sell that school with no obstacles and put most of the money in their pockets, just as they did with the enourmous wealth of Melkonian Fund.

 

Please go to www.SaveMelkonian.org and read there - all these questions you are asking me are there in detail

 

This is a crucial point... we must put our efforts together!!!

[Stormig]

Message: 2

Date: Mon, 24 Jan 2005 19:52:35 +0400

From: Armenian Patriarchate of Istanbul

Subject: Armenian Patriarchate of Constantinople takes legal action to keep Melkonian Institute open

 

 

PRESS RELEASE

ARMENIAN PATRIARCHATE

TR-34480 Kumkapi, Istanbul

Tel: +90 (212) 517-0970

Fax: +90 (212) 516-4833

Divan@ArmenianPatriarchate.org

 

ARMENIAN PATRIARCHATE TAKES LEGAL ACTION TO KEEP MELKONIAN INSTITUTE OPEN

 

 

CONTACT: RAFFI ZINZALIAN

951-453-9917

 

On behalf of Melkonian alumni, around the world, the Patriarch of the

Armenian Patriarchate of Turkey, Mesrob Mutafyan, as the original trustee of

the Melkonian gift, filed a lawsuit on January 13, 2005, with the Superior

Court of the State of California, against The Armenian General Benevolent

Union seeking to continue the Institute as the premier Armenian educational

facility in the world and enforce the terms of the Garabed Melkonian Trust.

The suit will be prosecuted by MacCarley & Rosen, PLC of Los Angeles,

California.

 

Devoted alumni from around the world have banded together to oppose the

closing of their beloved Melkonian Educational Institute, a treasure of

Armenian culture and education in Nicosia, Cyprus. Using the proceeds of a

large financial gift from Garabed Melkonian, a benefactor, the Armenian

Patriarch of Constantinople, Zaven Der Yeghyayan, in 1923 established the

Melkonian Educational Institute in Cyprus. It has nurtured three generations

of Armenian teachers, educators, lawyers, doctors, poets, scientists, and

leaders. Its location in Cyprus puts it at the crossroads of the Armenian

culture-between the Armenia homeland and the millions of Armenians who have

immigrated to Europe and the America's.

 

In 1925, the Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople with Garabed Melkonian's

concurrence thereafter conveyed the entire gift, including the Melkonian

Educational Institute, in trust to the Armenian General Benevolent Union,

with the express direction and expectation that the AGBU would maintain the

Institute in Cyprus and continue to educate Armenian youth long into the

future. The Melkonian School now educates over 200 students from throughout

the world every year at its 40 acre campus in Nicosia.

 

The AGBU has recently announced that the Melkonian Institute will be closed

at the end of the 2005 school year. Melkonian graduates from around the

world have united in vigorous opposition to any effort to sell off the

School and to do injustice to Garabed Melkonian's vision and foresight. So

far, individual calls to AGBU to retain the school have gone unanswered.