`NO NEED TO CLOSE MELKONIAN’ EMPHASIZES PATRIARCH

ISTANBUL, March 13 (LRAPER Bulletin). His Beatitude Mesrob II, Armenian
Patriarch of Istanbul and All Turkey, answered questions posed by the Noyan
Tapan information agency. The following is the authorized translation from
Western Armenian to English.

Q. – Your Beatitude, Armenians worldwide are concerned with the dispute
concerning the Melkonian Educational Institute that is evolving between the
Armenian Patriarchate of Istanbul and the Armenian General Benevolent
Union (AGBU). Please, present the background of this issue briefly.

A. – Let me summarize. In 1921, Karapet Melkonian transferred to the
Patriarchate of Istanbul a donation of 400,000 Egyptian pounds which was
worth at the time 3,5 million dollars. In 1924, Patriarch Zaven Der
Yeghiayan of blessed memory, established a school and an orphanage in the
city of Nicosia, Cyprus, with the income from this donation. He named it the
Melkonian Educational Institute. In 1925, Patriarch Zaven transferred the
Cyprus MEI and the entire Melkonian fund to the AGBU. It is to be noted that
the AGBU received everything from the Istanbul Patriarchate. In 1926, with a
court decision an agreement was signed between Karapet Melkonian, Patriarch
Zaven and the AGBU. According to this agreement, the AGBU must keep the
Melkonian Educational Institute open, provide it with necessary funds, pay
1,000 Egyptian pounds per annum to the Jerusalem Patriarchate, 1,500
Egyptian pounds per annum to the Istanbul Patriarchate, as well as open a
kindergarten for Armenians living in Alexandria. In 2004, however, the AGBU
announced its decision to close down the Melkonian Educational Institute,
which is the only 12-year Armenian school within the European Union. With
regret, I followed the conflicting opinions on this matter published in the
Armenian media. However, on December 26, 2004, I personally saw, for the
first time, the official copy of the 1926 agreement. It was now clear that
the lawful successors to Patriarch Zaven had the right to intervene in the
issue. Therefore, in January, we took legal action against the AGBU in the
California supreme court to withdraw the decision to close down the
Melkonian Educational Institute.

Q. – How do you assess the AGBU announcement of their wish to establish a
similar institution in Armenia, instead of keeping the Melkonian
Educational Institute open?

A. – What does “similar” institution mean? How can the only Armenian senior
high school operating in the European Union be replaced with a new school in
Armenia? Opening a new school in Armenia will cost, with the most
exaggerated estimate, 2-3 million US dollars. The AGBU elite or their
flatterers can easily afford such a school in Armenia, so the closure of yet
another school operating in Europe is not necessary at all. One ponders: if
the land and buildings of the Melkonian Educational Institute are sold, the
AGBU would earn, according to Cypriot Armenians, perhaps more than 120
million US dollars. There is also the Melkonian fund itself, which,
according to experts, would comprise no less than 20 million US dollars if
it has been reasonably managed. What are they going to do with this sum? Our
people have a right to know. Karapet Melkonian was an ethnophile and he left
his wealth to the children of his nation through this Patriarchal See. Thus,
in the words of the Gospel, today we can all say to the AGBU “Give an
account of thy stewardship.”

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

A. – Naturally. Already, the Patriarchate receives annually a certain
allocation. In 2004, I wouldn’t know the figures by heart, but I suppose we
received something like 1,600 US dollars. A little more or less will not
create a significant change in our annual budget. What is important is this:
Like every charitable institution, the AGBU, also, must be accountable to
our people. What happened to the 3,5 million US dollars of the 1920s? How
much money is left in the Melkonian fund today? Let them inform the nation.

Q. – In the critical observations addressed to you, among others, there was
an accusation that you have not attempted to settle the dispute with the
AGBU by way of negotiations prior to taking legal action. Please comment on
this.

A. – We would be pleased if they were satisfied only with critical
observations. Also prior to the Catholicosal Elections in 1999, when they
supposed that I would declare my candidacy – then proposed by certain
clergymen presently occupying primatial sees – they began to try to stick
mud on me, and to defame me with false accusations and slanderous
expressions via hired pens in the Armenian media. Other potential
candidates, too, were treated in the same way. It is bad and immoral people
who resort to such methods when they fear that their interests are
endangered. Today, too, the same circles resort to the same murky methods,
due to their lack of moral and intellectual probity. A pity! As for the
negotiations: the current successor of Patriarch Zaven is the guarantor of
the Melkonian will. Why has the AGBU not applied to the Patriarchate to this
day? Let me say why. Because it does not wish to negotiate. It must not be
forgotten that no reply has been given to the letters and criticisms
directed at the AGBU, to this day. In other words, the accusation should be
reversed and directed to the AGBU.

Q. – Do you see any prospect today of avoiding the judicial act and
achieve an agreement with the AGBU?

A. – In response to Californian mediators, we already expressed willingness,
two months ago, to receive an AGBU delegation in Istanbul. Therefore, it is
difficult to comprehend the purpose of the heinous announcement of the
Armenian Democratic Liberal Party, as well as other media assaults. It is
possible that they think it more opportune to negotiate after having dealt
blows. They are mistaken.