CONSTANTINOPLE PATRIARCHATE STRIVES TO PREVENT ABOLITION OF MELKONIAN

ISTANBUL, March 11 (Noyan Tapan). Patriarch of Armenians in
Constantinople, most reverend master, Archbishop Mesrop Mutafian
answers the questions of Noyan Tapan information agency.

Q. – Patriarch Lord. Armenians worldwide are concerned with the dispute
on the Melkonian Educational Institute evolved between the Armenian
Patriarchate in Constantinople and the Armenian General Benevolent
Union (AGBU). Please, present the background of this issue briefly.

A. – Here is the outline. In 1921, Karapet Melkonian transferred a
donation of 400,000 Egyptian pounds (3,5 million dollars at that time)
to the Patriarchate in Constantinople. In 1924, blissful Patriarch
Zaven Yeghiayan established a school and an orphanage in the city
of Nicosia, Cyprus, by the income arisen out of this donation. He
named it Melkonian Educational Institute. In 1925, Zaven Patriarch
transferred the Cyprus MEI and the entire fund got from Melkonian
to AGBU. It is to be mentioned that AGBU gets everything from the
Constantinople Patriarchate. In 1926, with the court’s decision an
agreement was signed between Karapet Melkonian, Zaven Patriarch
and AGBU. According to the agreement, AGBU has to keep open the
Melkonian Educational Institute, provide it with necessary supply,
pay annually 1,000 Egyptian pounds to the Jerusalem Patriarchate,
1,500 Egyptian pounds to the Constantinople Patriarchate, as well
as open a kindergarten for Armenians living in Alexandria. In 2004,
however, the AGBU announced about its decision to close the Melkonian
Educational Institute, which is the only 12-year Armenian school in
the European Union. I, painfully, followed for-and-against opinions on
this matter published in the Armenian media. And, on December 26, 2004,
I saw for the first time the official copy of the 1926 agreement. It
was clear that the legal successors of Zaven Patriarch were competent
to interfere these circumstances. Therefore, in January, we sued a
judicial act against the AGBU in the Californian high court to withdraw
the decision about closing the Melkonian Educational Institute.

Q. – How do you assess the AGBU announcement on having an intention
to establish a similar institution in Armenia, instead of Melkonian
Educational Institute?

A. – What does “similar” institution mean? How may the only Armenian
school operating in the European Union be replaced with a new school
in Armenia? Opening a new school in Armenia will cost, at the highest
estimates, 2-3 million US dollars. The AGBU elite or satellites can
easily build such a school in Armenia, and closing another school
operating in Europe is not required at all. People will think,
whether they want or not, that if the territory and the buildings of
the Melkonian Educational Institute are sold, the AGBU will earn,
according to Cyprus Armenians, more than 120 million US dollars.
There is also the fund from the Melkonian will, which according to
the experts would comprise not less than 20 million US dollars if
reasonably administered. What are they going to do with this money?
Any member of our nation has the right to be educated. Karapet
Melkonian was patriot and he left his wealth to his nation through
the Patriarchate. Thus, in the words of the Gospel, today we all have
the right to say to the AGBU “Be accountable for your actions.”

Q. – So, may we conclude that the primary goal of the Patriarchate is
maintaining the Melkonian Educational Institute, rather than getting
funds from the will of patron Melkonians?

A. – Certainly. Every year, the Patriarchate gets certain amounts
of allocations. In 2004, I think we got 1,600 US dollars. I do not
know the numbers by heart. Not much will be changed in our annual
budget with more or less allocations. The following is important: Like
every charitable institution, the AGBU also must be accountable to
our people. What happened to the 3,5 million US dollars of 1920s? How
much money is available in the Melkonian will today? The nation has
to be informed about these.

Q. – In the critical opinions addressed to you, there were, among
others, accusations that before suing at court you did not try to
settle the dispute with the AGBU by negotiations. Please comment
on this.

A. – We would be satisfied if only critical opinions were heard. Prior
to the Catholicos Elections in 1999, when there was a view that I
would announce about my candidacy based on recommendations of some
leading clergymen, the Armenian mercenary media started to stick me
in the mud with slanderous accusations and abuse. Other potential
candidates too, were subject to the same treatment??. The wicked
and immoral people behave this way merely when they are anxious that
their interests are damaged. Today again, the same people take up the
same dirty methods to use the Melkonian will, because unfortunately,
they are broke from moral and ideological points of view. Sin!

A. for the negotiations: the current successor of Zaven Patriarch is
the guarantor of the Melkonian will. Why have not the AGBU applied
to the Patriarchate yet? That is because the AGBU did not want to
negotiate. We shall not forget that up to now no reply was given
to the letters and critics addressed to the AGBU. In other words,
accusation shall be re-directed to the AGBU.

Q. – Do you see any perspective today to avoid the judicial act and
achieve an agreement with the AGBU?

A. – Two months ago, we expressed readiness to host one of the
AGBU delegations in Constantinople, in response to the Californian
mediators. Thus, it is hard to understand the purpose of nasty
announcements and other forms of attacks of Ramkavar Azatakan Party
through media. They may think that negotiating after “beating” will
be more beneficial for them. They are mistaken.