I have the greatest respect for Haigashen Ouzounian who is, and continues to remain, one of the solid and true Armenian leaders. He has been deservedly elevated to many responsible positions, including his election to the board of directors of the AGBU, a highly coveted position by any measure. I also admire his devotion to the Melkonian Educational Institute in Cyprus, which he publicly, unabashedly and strongly displayed in a three-part series of articles which appeared in Nor Or weekly in magnificent Armenian and masterfully translated into English by the managing editor of TAR Int, Aris G. Sevag, and published in the June 21, June 28 and July 5, 2003 issues of this most widely read and best weekly the community has ever had. Mr. Sevag deserves plaudits and praise for having mastered the tortuous, frustrating and extremely hard craft of the art of translation. Having followed the journey of the blessed Melkonian Institute through good times and bad, having been there in person, having reviewed Melkonians present situation and having carefully read Mr. Ouzounians articles, both in Armenian and English, with great interest, I remembered a snippet of poetry of my younger years, which goes something like the boast of the past, the worth and beauty they gave await the inevitable hand when the path of PAST glory leads but to the grave.?

You know better than I, Mr. Ouzounian, that there was a time when Diasporan life dictated our fighting for the Armenian language, Armenian food, Armenian newspapers and books. We refused to allow our children to identify themselves as Americans, French, Lebanese, Syrians or Cypriots. We insisted that they were forever and ever true Armenians. Huge forces and unbelievable changes burst our bubble and the battle was lost. Our children are American, French, Lebanese, Syrian, Cypriot or Russian. It is time for all of us in the dispersion to stop being haunted by the ghosts of past glories, past history, past concerns, past ways of conducting educational institutions, and find the courage to face new realities, new circumstances and new situations, no matter how much they hurt. Armenia, and only Armenia, with her governing body, her language and institutions will write our history. All the Diasporan Armenians can do is help the motherland make her future history better and brighter. Common sense will always stand us in better stead than the slavish adherence to emotion. I fully appreciate Mr. Ouzounians lament, as he puts it, 'to take away the memory-laden feelings connected with each stone, each bush, each tree, each building of this institution.s? Emotion, emotion, pure emotion! It is also nostalgic but wrong to insist that 'without the Armenian language, national feeling and sentiment will die.'? Even the most passionate Armenian language lover must admit that environmental circumstances and NECESSITY have forced our children to speak, think and dream in English, French, Russian or other languages, in order to fit in, to succeed and excel. Our task remains to pass on to them a proud identity and rich and precious heritage. Throughout the world, parents are demanding first-rate schools, first-rate teachers, first-rate facilities and first-rate environment for their children. All available facts demonstrate that Melkonian is unable to compete with excellent schools in the Americas, Europe, Russia, the Middle East or even Armenia. It is extremely sad to admit that the Melkonian Institute has become a safe haven for most of its students, who were unable to gain admission to better schools, or parents who are unwilling to sacrifice by paying tuition fees required by better-qualified and more prestigious schools.

It is a matter of record that Melkonian has been operating at a huge loss for years. Mr. Ouzounian claims it is less than the $1,200,000 the AGBU board advances to cover the annual deficit Melkonian incurs. With the AGBU being a benevolent institution, and education high on its agenda, the matter of the deficit should not be the greatest concern of the board, if funds are well spent and fill urgent educational needs of the community. Should not the AGBU boards of directors, true to their responsibilities as elected representatives, be permitted to seek answers to some penetrating questions lacking in Mr. Ouzounian's sentimental pronouncements that 'Melkonian is not for sale.'? Such questions include the following: 'Why has Melkonian failed to be the premiere Armenian school in spite of a lack of financial worries? Is the future of Melkonian viable? Can it provide first-rate education by attracting first-rate and highly qualified teachers? Can Melkonian meet the huge educational challenges that other institutions can and thus successfully compete with them? Will Melkonian ever achieve sustainability, both in finance and reputation? Is Melkonian presently “ not as in its past “ fulfilling its objective, its charter and its reason for existence? Why doesn't Melkonian abandon its 77-year tradition and mandate, and open its doors to non-Armenian students? The answer to all these questions is an unqualified, undeniable and unfortunate NO. Therefore, Melkonian must close its doors and the Melkonian property must be sold! The decision facing the AGBU board of directors is a most difficult one indeed. To close a venerable, 77-year-old institution with its many supporters is extremely hard, laden with emotion. However, as Oliver Cromwell said when facing a similar situation, 'no institution goes far as it knows not where it is going.'? Melkonian presently does not know where it is going, where it fits; it cannot compete, cannot attract superior students, is not equipped to face new and ever-changing situations; each passing year highlights its failure to fulfill its mission, leading to the logical conclusion that the Melkonian Institute should close its doors.

Berge Setrakian, president of AGBU, and all members of the board of directors have reached a position of power and authority not just because of accident of birth or possession of wealth. They all are men and women of fine breeding, intelligence and sensitivity. They have been involved in all phases of Armenian community life worldwide, know the needs and wants of Armenians; they have surely been elected to make tough decisions. If they feel it unwise, wrong and not in the best interests of those they serve, to have Melkonian proceed as before, it should be closed after the last enrolled students graduate in three to four years. This will give the board sufficient time to adopt comprehensive plans and programs that will “ with the proceeds of some 40 to 50 million dollars which the sale of the Melkonian property will bring “ 'PRESERVE AND PROMOTE THE ARMENIAN IDENTITY AND HERITAGE THROUGH EDUCATION, CULTURE AND HUMANITARIAN PROGRAMS.'? Chairperson Louise Manoogian Simone, President Berge Setrakian and Treasurer Nazar Nazarian, along with all the other well-respected board members of the AGBU, can certainly be entrusted to carry forth the mission statement of this great organization declared such a long time ago in Cairo, Egypt. If Melkonian is permitted to proceed as before, Mr. Ouzounian, this institution that you and I love will soon lie in that quiet corner of Cyprus with only the wind to sing its lament. It is my hope that the AGBU board will boldly release itself from the bondage of the past, reject all inflexibility of Melkonian supporters and alumni, refute the emotional visualism of Mr. Ouzounian, proceed with the sale of the property, and close the school's doors. In so doing, they must be willing to absorb all the fury and blame that will surely follow. I have excellent reason to believe that the Board of Directors of the AGBU will use the proceeds of the sale of Melkonian Educational Institute with imagination, foresight and passionate devotion to the MELKONIAN name. The legend of the Melkonian Brothers must continue.

Fort Lee, NJ

P.S. In a subsequent article, I will endeavor to present some thoughts on how best to utilize the many millions of dollars that the sale of the Melkonian property will bring.

?© 2003 Armenian Reporter Int`l