Mr Yenovk Balikian's article in the 13 June 2009 of the weekly Massis ("Appeal" for Melkonian Educational Institute) appears to be yet another attempt to insult and discredit the Melkonian Alumni and Friends (MEI-AAF), without addressing key issues that remain unanswered by the AGBU Central Board, regarding the closure of the Melkonian Educational Institute. The MEI-AAF recently published an appeal and started a signature campaign to reopen the Melkonian Educational Institute (MEI) in Cyprus.
Apart from trumpeting the standard AGBU arguments for shutting down the MEI and glorifying its "infallible" leadership, the most common feature of Mr Balikian's article appears to be the insults it heaps on MEI alumni. In particular, it labels the alumni "noisemakers" and questions the wisdom of their six year campaign to stop the closure of the MEI and the sale of its land. The article attacks Melkoniantsi and their supporters and claims that they have hidden motives, which the writer claims are unimportant and self serving and that they are aimed at damaging the AGBU.
The servility and coarseness of the article aside, Mr Balikian and his handlers conveniently fail to address key issues related to the AGBU board decision to shut down MEI and to sell its remaining properties. Specifically;
1) The article fails to address how the AGBU misused and squandered the endowment that the founders of the MEI bequeathed it in trust to maintain the MEI and to support its students in perpetuity.
2) It fails to mention why the AGBU refuses to abide by the intent of the founders, who insisted that the MEI should remain intact even if the AGBU is dissolved.
3) It fails to point out that the MEI would not have been closed if its properties were not so valuable.
4) It fails to mention that the AGBU sold a substantial portion of the MEI properties the early 1980's with similar arguments only to land the school in the same financial mess by the 2000's.
5) It fails to mention that the director of the AGBU board lied to its constituents across the world when he gave assurances that "no decision has been made" about the closure of the MEI only weeks before announcing the decision to close.
6) It fails to mention that the said decision was taken with no consultation with AGBU constituents because the board knew it would be controversial.
7) It fails to mention that there has been no outpouring of public support for the AGBU's decision (as opposed to the support the "noisemakers" have received).
8) It fails to mention that the AGBU has not yet presented a credible plan for the "Melkonian Educational Center" it purportedly wishes to establish in Armenia.
9) It ignores the AGBU's failure to persuade the Diaspora Armenians and, particularly, the Armenian community of Cyprus to wisdom of its decision.
Having failed to persuade the Western Armenian public with positive discourse, the AGBU has--not surprisingly--resorted to mudslinging and name calling to intimidate the MEI alumni.
Melkoniantsi Blogger |