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Contact: Deacon Vagarsag Seropyan
Lraper Bulletin
Armenian Patriarchate
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Patriarchate Chancellor Remarks On the Melkonian Grant

Concerning the press release of the AGBU Central Board of Directors,
on the lawsuit filed by His Beatitude Mesrob II, Armenian Patriarch of
Istanbul and all Turkey, the Revd. Dr. Krikor Damadyan, the Chancellor
of the Patriarchal See, made the following statement:

“It is difficult to comprehend how the closure of a prestigious school
in the Middle East, and one of the very few Armenian educational
institutions in the European Union could be in the best interests of
the Armenian nation. We believe that this decision, taken by a few
executives, is a wrong one.

“The AGBU Central Board of Directors claims that it will continue to
honour the vision of its many generous benefactors including the late
Garabed Melkonian, for the benefit of all Armenians worldwide. This
is a remarkable statement since the AGBU is confessing publicly that
the Armenians in Turkey are not considered part of “all Armenians
worldwide,” since, unlike the Gulbenkian Foundation and the Apcarian
Trust, the AGBU has not taken much interest in how Armenians in Turkey
have wrestled to maintain their community organisations during the
last seventy-five years. However, we do acknowledge receipt of minor
sums sent us by donors through AGBU means.

“The only way to honour the vision of the Melkonian Brothers is to
keep the Melkonian Educational Institute in Cyprus open. The AGBU
should refrain from closing down the MEI and selling the property,
lest she should declare herself untrustworthy before all Armenians
worldwide. Why should people make grants to a charity organisation such
as the AGBU, if following their demise a few executives will deal with
the grant in a way that will not do justice to the benefactor’s memory?

“The AGBU should also publish how she has executed the Melkonian Trust
since 1926. As the present successor to Patriarch Zaven of blessed
memory, His Beatitude Patriarch Mesrob takes dutiful interest as to
whether the terms of the grant have been implemented responsibly. Every
charity organisation should be accountable to the public and should
not take offense when asked for accounts. AGBU executives who donate
their own family wealth on charity are appreciated dearly by all
Armenians worldwide. Nevertheless, that should not allow them any
right to do as they please with the grants made by other benefactors.

“His Beatitude Patriarch Mesrob has magnanimously made it known to
those Californian Armenians who would like to act as mediators that
he would be willing to receive a delegation in Istanbul in order
to discuss a meaningful settlement of this critically important
issue to the Armenians of Europe. Great justice will be done if the
AGBU reverses her decision to close down the Melkonian Educational
Institute. This is our Patriarchate’s wish and prayer, as also
expressed by numerous Melkonian alumni worldwide. ”

From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress