CYPRUS MINISTER REAFFIRMS WISH TO PRESERVE MELKONIAN

Gibrahayer
10 October 2009

The Minister of Education of Cyprus, Dr. Andreas Demetriou, received a
delegation of Armenian Diaspora and Melkonian Alumni organisations to
whom he expressed the Government’s wishes to preserve the historical
Melkonian Educational Institute.

"It is my intention and this government’s intention to have the school
preserved. When a school closes down everyone becomes poorer," the
Minister told the delegation, representing the Melkonian Action Group.

Representatives of the Diaspora organisations briefed the Minister
about the historical achievements of the school and its graduates and
the Institute’s significant contribution to culture, the arts and
sciences, as well as towards the survival of Armenian communities,
up until its closure in June 2005 against the wishes of the Diaspora.

Members of the delegation also ensured the Minister of the viability
of reopening the school with financial and other support pledged by
individuals and organisations from around the world.

They also reminded the Minister of the recent recommendations of
the Council of Europe’s Committee of Experts on the protection of
minority languages, that "encouraged the [Cyprus] authorities to take
appropriate steps" in this direction.

Dr. Demetriou said that he would facilitate efforts, in close
cooperation with the Armenian Representative Mr. Vartkes Mahdessian
and any other public officials, to seek ways to reopen the school.

The delegation members said they will support any mediation effort
initiated by the Minister that would lead to a favourable outcome
and ensure the school would reopen.
From: Baghdasarian