A STEP CLOSER: ARMENIAN CHAIR IN THE UNIVERSITY OF CYPRUS

18-04- 2008

On the signing of an agreement of Cooperation between the University
of Cyprus and Yerevan State University, Armenian MP Vartkes Mahdessian
said that this agreement "lays the foundation of a close co-operation
between our homelands". He also pledged that he will play an active
role during the future co-operation between the two universities,
which hopefully will open the way to establish an Armenian Chair in
the University of Cyprus very soon. The singing of the agreement was a
"step closer" concluded the Armenian MP.

On Tuesday 15.04.2008, in the presence of the Armenian Representative
Mr. Vartkes Mahdessian, the agreement of Cooperation between the two
Universities was signed by the Rectors Professor Stavros A. Zenios
and Professor Aram Simonyan

In the agreement it is stated that both institutions will promote
research between faculty members, exchange academic material, promote
lectures and discussions, organize seminars and conferences together
and also exchange undergraduate and graduate students.

A month earlier, on the 5th of March 2007, Mr. Mahdessian during
his meeting with Professor Stavros A. Zenios, regarding the
fate of the Melkonian Institute’s wealthy and valuable library,
suggested establishment of an Armenian Chair in the University of
Cyprus. Mr. Mahdessian had raised the issue of an Armenian Chair
earlier in his speech during the "Minorities in Cyprus" Seminar held
at the European University of Cyprus in November 2007.