Save Melkonian

CYPRUS MAIL - Wednesday, November 12, 2003

Melkonian under threat as developers eye CYP40 million property
By Jean Christou

THE Armenian community is racing to save the ailing Melkonian Institute from closure after developers set their sights on the CYP40 million property in the heart of the capital's business district.

The institute, founded in 1926, has been the centre of Armenian culture on the island for nearly 80 years. Now, its future is in doubt after the US-based board which administers the school said it was considering selling and relocating.

Petros Kalaidjian, the Armenian Representative at the House of Representatives, told the Cyprus Mail yesterday that the entire community was up in arms over the prospect.

He said he was flying to Paris this weekend for a meeting with the American president and vice president of the administrative board in an attempt to dissuade them from taking any decision that would close the Melkonian.
The Armenian community is also appealing to the Cyprus government to help save the school by providing subsidies that would help it overcome its deficit. A meeting with the Education Minister is planned for next week, Kalaidjian said.

He said the rumours about the closure of the school began some time ago when a member of the American board, the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU), which runs over 20 Armenian schools worldwide, visited the island to make a report on its future.

The Melkonian belongs to the AGBU headquarters in New York and they are thinking about its future, Kalaidjian said, adding that the fact the building was on a prime piece of real estate in the CyBC area was a huge financial incentive to sell, particularly as the school was running on a deficit.
" Most schools do not make a profit nowadays and the board is toying with the idea and thinking what they should do. They have not taken any decision yet of course but once rumours start then there is panic," said Kalaidjian.
He said the uncertainty had affected recruitment, with a drop in numbers over the past 12 months from 240 pupils to around 210.

Sixty of the pupils are from Cyprus, but the Melkonian also caters for Armenian students from Cyprus, Greece, Lebanon, Syria, the US, Canada, Bulgaria, Romania and Albania among others.

"There are thoughts and speculation about relocating or selling the Melkonian. The government knows about it. We have talked with them and we have a meeting with the Education Minister next week. We are going to discuss some subsidies and there are indications that the government is looking at this very favourably," Kalaidjian said.

He said the 3,000 strong Armenian community in Cyprus and most of the diaspora believed the Melkonian should not be moved.

Kalaidjian said he hoped to come back from Paris with concrete news from the AGBU.

"They are being very vague, but they did mention they could relocate the school to another country or even another area of Cyprus but they are being evasive."

Kalaidjian said losing the school would be "tragic" for the Armenian community.

"We don't even want to think about it. We cannot accept such a decision. The school board in Cyprus is unanimous on keeping the school," he said, but added: "There are a number of developers with their eye on the property. It's a prime site so the rumour panic has started but I am still optimistic that we are going to stop all this nonsense.

"Let's face it, the Melkonian is a landmark. It's an historic place. It's been here for almost 80 years. We cannot allow this."

Kalaidjian added that not only was the Melkonian important in terms of Armenian education, it was vital for the community as a whole.

"Everything revolves around the Melkonian, such as gatherings, shows and theatre and everything," he said.

Former pupil Richard Didonian told the Cyprus Mail yesterday that most former pupils he'd spoken to were very disappointed at the developments. "At the end of the day, we are talking about heritage," he said. "It was built as an orphanage for the Armenian nation and it would be a big shame for it to disappear, but if the school is not making money there is not much that can be done."