DECLARATION

It is with profound indignation that we have read the 16 March 2004 press release of the Central Board of the AGBU in New York regarding the closure of the Melkonian Educational Institute [MEI] and the sale of its huge estate.  The reason given for this decision, based on the argument of the Central Board that “The MEI no longer justifies its basic mission in the present realities of Armenian life”, does not convince and remains incomprehensible.

 This irresponsible, short sighted and nationally-harmful decision is a body blow to our struggle for survival and, by wiping from the face of the earth a centre of forging Armenian identity, it undermines every hope and prospect of developing and maintaining the Armenian language in the Diaspora.

 We condemn this decision for the following reasons:

 A – If the Melkonian Educational Institute were not fulfilling its basic mission, it was up to the Central Board of the AGBU to redefine it instead of taking a decision to close the MEI.

 B – If, by “basic mission”, the Central Board of the AGBU had in mind the question of providing education to large number of orphans that existed in 1926, it is true that these do not exist in our days.  It remains a fact, however, that there exist numerous children of needy parents in our days who need an education and an Armenian upbringing.  And, in providing for them, Melkonian has fulfilled its “mission” marvellously. 

 C – If the Melkonian Educational Institute were not fulfilling its mission in educational terms, it would have been incumbent on the Central Board of the AGBU to raise its educational level by introducing changes in the staff of the school instead of thinking about closing down the school.

 D – If the Melkonian Educational Institute were facing financial difficulties, it would have been incumbent on the Central Board of the AGBU to exploit the material potential offered by the extensive Melkonian estate and use it to ensure that Melkonian itself thrived.  If necessary, in case the Central Board of the AGBU considered itself incompetent in the sense of material management, it could have applied to Diaspora businesspersons outside the AGBU circles or confer with responsible members of the Melkonian Alumni Associations, instead of taking a decision all by itself to close down the school.  All this, without mentioning the fact that the AGBU is the wealthiest Union in the Armenian World and has various and numerous wills and resources at its disposal.  In fact, what on Earth is its “mission” if not to help those in need and to provide needy children with an education?  The announcement, however, is mute about the financial reasons for its decision.

 For us, the Melkonian is the educational institute that not only provides education at a European level but, thanks to being a boarding school, is the only one in the world that bonds together students from 16 European countries through the teaching of the Armenian language and culture and forges a solid Armenian identity in them.

 It is a fact of life in education that all schools have their ups and downs.  We have before us the example of the Tbrotsaser school in Paris which, only a few years ago, appeared to have no way out other than closure; yet, today, it is a prosperous school with an ever-increasing enrollment.  We also have the case of some Armenian schools in Istanbul which at one time faced the danger of closure because of the difficulties created by the state; but, thanks to the capable measures taken by community organizations, they were saved from closure by merging with other schools.  Where there is a will, there will always be a way.

 That will does exists, not with the Armenian leadership of the Central Board of the AGBU in New York unfortunately, but with the Greek Government of Cyprus. The latter has for long provided financial support to the MEI and now wishes to assist by a sum three times larger than before, assuring that it will be possible to receive large sums in the future from the European Community thanks to the imminent accession of Cyprus to Europe.  Parallel with these prospects, and in order to thwart any prospect of selling off Melkonian, the Government of Cyprus has declared the MEI a “national heritage site”.

 Therefore, with no prospect of the building being sold at present, we hope that the AGBU revises its decision to close down Melkonian without delay and announces this very shortly, and the Melkonian Educational Institute gets on with its historic mission with renewed vigour.  If the AGBU considers itself incapable or incompetent to continue its patronage, it can pass it on to a Board composed of capable persons which can undertake the financial management of the MEI.  This can save both Melkonian and the standing of the Armenian General Benevolent Union, freeing the latter of charges of making arbitrary use of a deed entrusted to it.  The Melkonian Educational Institute, with its 78 years of magnificent record, has become the symbol of our will to survive.  Nobody has the right to destroy it. 

 MASHDOTZ, The Committee of the Union for the Defence of the Armenian Language