Cyprus Mail
Jan 27 2005
Armenian Patriarch sues in bid to save the Melkonian
By Jean Christou
THE ARMENIAN Patriarch of Constantinople, Mesrob Mutafyan, has filed
suit in Los Angeles against the Armenian General Benevolent Union
(AGBU) in an attempt to prevent the closure of the Melkonian
Educational Institute (MEI) in Cyprus.
According to an announcement from the Melkonian worldwide alumni, the
Patriarch, who is the original trustee of the MEI, filed the suit on
January 13 with the Superior Court of the State of California.
The action is being co-ordinated and mediated by the California group
on behalf of the Patriarchate, a beneficiary of Garabed Melkonian’s
Deed of assignment. Garabed Melkonian was one of the two sibling
founders of the Nicosia-based secondary school 78 years ago.
The MEI is under threat of closure from June this year, after the
AGBU, which administers some 22 Armenian schools worldwide, decided
the loss-making school should close finally.
However, the alumni and other friends of the Melkonain have banded
together to fight the decision, believing that the true motive of the
closure is financial, given that the school is sitting on some £40
million worth of commercial real estate in the capital. The legal
battle is the last chance to save the MEI and the challenge is based
on the extent to which the AGBU should have control of the MEI.
Using the proceeds of the large financial gift from Garabed, the
Armenian Patriarch of Constantinople, Zaven Der Yeghyayan, in 1923
established the MEI. In 1925, the Armenian Patriarch of
Constantinople, with Garabed Melkonian’s concurrence, thereafter
conveyed the entire gift, including the MEI, in trust to the AGBU,
with the express direction and expectation that it would maintain the
Institute in Cyprus and continue to educate Armenian youth, the
announcement said.
`The AGBU always argued that the copy of the deed in the hands of the
Alumni is in fact not the latest document in existence and that it
(the AGBU) has a later copy that changes the status of the Melkonian,
thus giving the AGBU the right to close the school and sell the
land,’ the alumni announcement said.
`The alumni, and Jack Melkonian, great nephew of Garabed Melkonian,
dispute this.
`In spite of all this, the AGBU has so far refused to produce what it
contests is the later will in its possession.’
During a visit to the island in November, Jack Melkonian, the great
great nephew of Garabed, said he would join the fight to save the
school. He said his family had a copy of the deed, which clearly
states that a trust should be set up, the proceeds of which were to
keep the school going.
He said there was no mention in the deed that the school should not
exist, and that in fact his great great uncle was rather concerned
that the school stay open. The amount donated at that time
corresponded to the budget of Luxembourg, he said.
Melkonian said he had asked the AGBU to forward its document, but it
had not done so by that time.
`If indeed the AGBU has a later copy of the deed of assignment, they
will be forced to show it in court, or else pay the Patriarchate the
money withheld over the last 79 years, no doubt with interest, and
possible also have to pay additional compensation,’ the alumni said,
referring to the alleged non-payment of an annual sum stipulated in
the Deed of Assignment.