AGLANDJIA GYMNASIUM TO MOVE TO MELKONIAN

Financial Mirror, Cyprus
June 29 2007

Alumni satisfied with deal, but remain cautious

The New York-based Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) has
offered temporary use of the Melkonian school’s abandoned premises
in Nicosia to the Aglandjia Gymnasium for a year, with an option to
renew the free lease for a further year.

In an agreement that was signed last Wednesday between Education
Minister Akis Cleanthous and the AGBU representatives in Cyprus,
the Melkonian school will be used by 430 Aglandjia pupils until
construction work in their own school are completed.

Aglandjia gymnasium has been facing construction problems for years,
with teachers, parents and pupils repeatedly expressing their concern
over the safety of the building.

The situation reached a climax last April when two construction workers
died while working at the gymnasium. The earth collapsed around them
as they were digging a hole, burying them alive.

Parents, teachers and pupils refused to attend the school until
drastic measures had been taken to ensure their safety.

"When the Armenian representative in parliament, Vartkes Mahdessian,
was first approached by the Minister of Education on April 25, the
intention was to go ahead and provide [the grounds of the Melkonian
Educational Institute] free of charge, but the decision was up to
the administrators in New York," the Alumni Association of Cyprus
said in an announcement.

The association, the local branch of the organization that represents
some 2,200 graduates of the historic school, greeted the latest
agreement with initial satisfaction.

"It had been the intention of the Armenian community of Cyprus from
the beginning to help the government in a moment of need and provide
shelter to the schoolchildren from Aglandjia until construction work
on the foundations of their school building are completed," said the
alumni announcement.

"Although we are not yet aware of all the details surrounding the
deal, we are waiting to see what limitations or clauses, if any,
were imposed on the Cyprus government in order to be granted the use
of the abandoned school buildings," the announcement said.

"We have assurances from the Education Ministry as well as the Attorney
General’s office that the lease agreement has no bearing whatsoever
on the heritage preservation order that protects 60% of the Melkonian
estate, including the historic buildings, the founders’ villa and
mausoleum, as well as the small forest along Limassol Avenue that some
people are so desperate to cut down and sell," the Alumni concluded.

An announcement from the Ministry of Education said that the
multi-purpose sports hall as well as the school’s auditorium, "will
be made available to the AGBU and to the Armenians, during times that
will not conflict with the school’s hours."

News reports last week said that a high-ranking official from the AGBU
in New York had visited Cyprus in order to conclude the property lease,
but that the agreement had been subject to at least five alterations,
according to Phileleftheros.

AGBU President Berg Setrakian said in a statement issued in New
York after a quick stop in Cyprus, where he refrained from meeting
any members of the community or even the Armenian Representative
in parliament, that the organisation "reiterates its commitment to
the Armenian Cypriot community. The AGBU is also considering the
development of a project for the benefit of al Cypriots."

The only acknowledgement of the school’s contribution to Cyprus society
came from the Minister of Education who said that, "the Melkonian
Educational Institute, the most renowned co-educational institution of
Cypriot Armenians, has been one of the primary Diaspora institutions
of education during the post-Armenian Genocide 20th century. It was
a boarding school of high academic standard located in Nicosia."

No mention was made of the AGBU’s decision to close the school after
79 years nor any explanation was given to the reasons that led to
the closure.