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Thursday, July 09 2009 - 07:12
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
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Our Contempt Հայերուս Թուքը
Our Contempt
By Raphael Badganian (1830-1892)
Translated by Kevork Kalayjian (2010)
A calculating, shrewd merchant you are, well versed in economy,
Estates, funds, and provisions - they say - you have plenty,
But if your wealth does not benefit Armenia
We spit on you and on all your riches as well.
You are valiant, we have heard, you stand almighty,
Your name is renowned for your epic victories,
But if your sword does not benefit Armenia,
We spit on you and on your saber as well.
Heavens have endowed you with talents and creativity,
Your prominence as an inspiring genius is known to many,
But if your creativity does not help Armenia,
We spit on you and on your ingenuity as well.
With foresight your mind has been adorned,
The rulers of the world beseech your advice,
But if your thoughts do not benefit Armenia,
We spit on you and on your insight as well.
With your competent, dexterous, and diligent hands
You have invented tools, and priceless machines
But if your labor does not benefit Armenia
We spit on you and on your workmanship as well.
You are enabled to deliver fiery speeches,
You are singled out amongst all the preachers,
But if your sermons do not benefit Armenia,
We spit on you and on your homilies as well.
With highest levels of learning, you became a scholar,
Your praise and accolades have made you popular,
But if your schooling does not benefit Armenia,
We spit on you and on your instructions as well.
I will honor you; give you my utmost respect,
And, I will rank you among the noblest,
If from your cradle to your grave
Your entire endeavor is for Armenia.
Հայերուս Թուքը
Գրեց' Ռափայէլ Պատկանեան (1830-1892)
Դուն խելոք հաշուով վաճառական ես,
Միւլք, փող ու ապրանք, կ՝ասէն, շատ ունես.
Բայց թէ փողէդ շահ չունի Հայաստան,
Թքել ենք քու ալ, փողիդ ալ վրան:
Քաջ ես, լսել ենք, ինքդ մեծաւոր,
Անուն յաղթողի ունիս փառաւոր,
Բայց թէ թըրէդ շահ չունի Հայաստան,
Թքել ենք քու ալ, թըրիդ ալ վըրան:
Ի վերուստ քանքար քեզի տուած է,
Հեղինակ անունդ աշխարհ փըռուած է,
Բայց թէ գրիչէդ շահ չունի Հայաստան,
Թքել ենք քու ալ, գրիչիդ ալ վրան:
Հեռատես մտքով դուն զարդարեցար,
Հըզոր իշխանի սիրելի դարձար.
Բայց թէ մտքէդ շահ չունի Հայաստան.
Թըքել ենք քու ալ, մտքիդ ալ վրան:
Բանուկ ու ճարտար դուն ունիս ձեռքեր,
Շատ կը հորինես թանկագին բաներ.
Բայց թէ ձեռքէդ շահ չունի Հայաստան,
Թքել ենք քու ալ, ձեռքիդ ալ վրան:
Երկինք շնորհեցին քեզ լեզու ճարտար,
Քարոզչի ստացար հռչակ ու հանճար.
Բայց թէ լեզուէդ շահ չունի Հայաստան,
Թքել ենք քու ալ, լեզուիդ ալ վրան:
Մեծ ուսում առիր, եղար գիտնական.
Գովքովդ լեցուած է մարդոց բերան.
Թէ ուսումէդ շահ չունի Հայաստան,
Թքել ենք քու ալ, ուսմանդ ալ վրան:
Կուտամ քեզ պատիւ, կ՝ունենաս դու յարգ
Ու կը դնեմ քեզ ազնիւ մարդոց կարգ,
Երբ օրորանէդ մինչեւ գերեզման
Միակ ձգտումդ ըլլայ Հայաստան:
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Where Do we Go From Here?
Where do we go from here?
93 years have passed since the attempted destruction of Western Armenian civilization, and the planned annihilation of the Armenian People.
93 years have passed since Western Armenians lost any hope of self-rule, democratic government or equal treatment by the law in the lands where they lived.
The question remains what does these Armenians and their descendents have to show in terms of being considered an entity, capable and willing to demand, pursue and attain national objectives, and basically reclaim what was forcibly and so blatantly taken away from them.
First let us examine some of the consequences of the Armenian Genocide.
The birth of the Republic of Armenia on the Armenian lands under Russian Occupation was an unintended by-product of the Turkish Nationalist extremists who once successful in annihilating the Western Armenian population, they thought they could do the same to the Eastern Armenians and clear the path to a larger pan-Turkic state. It turned out that Eastern Armenians could fight and win against the Turkish onslaught, a victory which is celebrated every year in all Armenian communities.
Since that victory most Armenian organizations and historians have tried to portray this victory at Sardarabad, as the victory of the Armenian people creating the false feeling that East and West Armenians were united in this glorious joint effort. Although this makes Western Armenians feel good about themselves but the truth of the matter is that the few Western Armenians who participated in this monumental struggle, were only there by happenstance of the genocide and the persecution in Western Armenia.
Eastern and Western Armenians:
The continued myth that East and West Armenia is the same and that they are the same people and culture is a false propaganda by the political organizations who have no idea how to pursue such uniquely challenging tasks as the reclamation of a country which was not even a declared and recognized country when it was destroyed by its enemy under the suspicion that this country was secretly trying g to organize itself to subvert the control of the dominant
Armenians from Diaspora do not comprehend how Armenians in Armenia can buy, sell and use Turkish products, The answer is simple the Eastern Armenians have no problems with the Turks, they fought and pretty much they won their battle against the Turkish Empire of 1918. They even fought and won against the Azeri Turks, in 1988 through 1994. The Western Armenians would like to pat themselves on the back and think that they had something substantial to contribute in both victories. So be it!
It is Western Armenians that have a problem with Turkey and the successive Turkish governments who continue to deny their responsibility for the Armenian Genocide. They have become so good in the art of denial that they have convinced the most advanced Western powers (The United States of America, and Great Britain) to go along with them in declaring that such an event did not happen, or if it did the victims themselves were responsible to what happened to them.
If the Western Armenians want to prove their case in the international arena, and if they plan to ask for retribution, and the right to resettle their lands, they cannot use the resources of the government of the Republic of Armenia, they need to establish their own independent government of the people of Western Armenia with the participation of all affected people.
Eastern Armenians in return would use every opportunity to lecture and sermonize from various pulpits that Eastern, Western and other Armenians are the fingers on a hand that come together in a fist in a show of strength and unity against any aggression against any part of Armenia. Although it might sound good and look good on paper in reality there are deep rooted suspicions in some sectors of Diaspora Armenians about the reliability and genuine spirit of cooperation of Eastern Armenians. Diaspora Armenians are becoming comfortable with the idea that all they have to do is to support the current Armenian Republic. This meaningful rationalization is becoming a tool of lethargy not to pursue the Western Armenian cause independently, and creatively. Whereas, in my opinion, all diaspora Armenians must support the Republic of Armenia with the clear understanding that this is just a first and required step towards the realization of Western Armenia. This step is not the one and only task, and this required step should not hinder the improvement our political skills to pursue multiple goals simultaneously.
In the educational arena, while there are high schools with Russian concentration, or English, French, or German concentration in Armenia, there is no high school of Western Armenian concentration. There are no western Armenian newspapers or periodicals printed in Armenia.
The Financial Arena:
If there was true cooperation between Eastern and Western Armenians, the Armenian economy would have flourished and developed despite the Turkish-Azeri blockade.
But there are no precedents:
Whenever the idea of a government in exile or readiness for Western Armenians is mentioned, the realistic response is to consider this an impossible task, because there are no historical precedents for such chain of events. The fact that the Western Armenian cultural and political survival is a unique issue that needs unprecedented socio political solutions must be clearly understood so that viable solutions could be imagined and implemented to make Western Armenian culture a viable culture for the centuries to come. A leadership is needed of Western Armenia/Diaspora, one that realizes the completely different circumstances under which this imaginary country needs to be reconstructed. There is no exact science and predetermined procedure to lead a dispersed nation to regain the lost homeland and insure the continuity of Western-Armenian civilization. New innovative experimentation is needed. This requires a dedicated and persistent followers; long term commitment to national goals for a culture the fragments of which are dispersed over many countries and continents.
Garage Sale
If a husband or a wife decides to sell their home without consulting his or her spouse that is usually an indicator of a serious lack of communication, the absence of respect, and the probable low levels of trust on each others ability to make the right decisions for the family unit. Even when families hold a garage sale, family members cooperate to make to select and agree on a price for the items on sale
Every now and then an Armenian institution decides to hold a garage sale getting rid of old junk in order to function more effectively in other areas, or so they claim. The most outrageous recent example of this tradition is the proposed/planned sale of the Melkonian Educational Institute of Nicosia, Cyprus by one of the most prosperous Diaspora institutions, the Armenian General Benevolent Union. The last time I was so furiously outraged about an Armenian treasure being auctioned off as money making tool was when, some rare ancient manuscript belonging to the Armenian patriarchate of Jerusalem found their way to the auction houses of Europe. I was in my early high school years at the Melkonian Educational Institute in Nicosia, Cyprus, and I kept wishing that I was this a millionaire who could purchase these manuscripts and return them to where they belong. That wish has been revived with a sense of dismay, what was I doing all these years since the last ‘Armenian Institutional Garage Sale’ how come I am not that millionaire who can resolve all this shameful monetary issues yet? I will attempt to answer this question in the next paragraph but right now let’s resolve this issue of Armenian National Garage Sales; a Western Armenian Government in Exile should outlaw any such garage sales. Any Armenian Institution for any economic political or other reason when feels compelled to auction off an Armenian national treasure should inform existing Armenian institutions about the situation. Only after notifying other Armenian Institutions, and not obtaining sufficient assistance to safeguard the Armenian National treasure, could such treasure be auctioned off to the highest bidder.
Success:
We have been thought so much stuff in Sunday Schools, Armenian Language Schools, Armenian Day Schools, we have been taught to become good scientists, artists, doctors, lawyers, accountants you name it, but we have not taught our children the art and the science of being successful in whatever they decide to do. For the next century we should focus on teaching our young the art being a success.
Diaspora Armenians are becoming comfortable with the idea that all they have to do is to support the current Armenian Republic. This meaningful rationalization is becoming a tool of lethargy to pursue the Western Armenian cause independently, and creatively. Whereas, in my opinion, all diaspora Armenians must support the Republic of Armenia with the clear understanding that this support is just a first and required step towards the realization of Western Armenia. This step is not the one and only task, and this required move should not hinder the improvement our political skills to pursue multiple goals simultaneously.
Turkish-Armenian Dialogue
“The Turkish Penal Code Article 301 is a threat to freedom of expression and must be repealed now!” Amnesty International.
With the TPC Article 301 still in the books, a genuine dialogue could not take place between Turkish historians who deny the genocide, and historians of any other country who affirm it. The existence of that code prohibits any Turkish citizen to be enlightened about the history of their ancestors, and as such, any historian representing the denialist viewpoint has no permission to be enlightened, since that would lead to the subsequent prosecution of that person under the penal code 301.
The next time they receive an invitation from the Turkish government, the Armenian government, and international Armenian organizations should stress that they are ready to discuss the Genocide issue with Turkish historians as soon as the threat of prosecution under the Turkish Penal Code 301 is rescinded.
The Apology
The apology is probably a bombshell that has many Western-Armenians confused and even scared. Lets say Harut Sassounian’s grand parents came from Sassoun (Occupied Western-Armenia) and the Turks now living in his grand father’s house are apologizing and calling Harut to come back and live in his grand parent’s house. What is Harut going to do? Harut Sassounian instead writes an article Turks' Apology for Armenian Genocide: Good First Step, but not Good Enough. We realy need people like Harut to think through and figure out this challenging task and come up with real responsible steps than we can take to fulfill our responsibilities, and not just wait for bigger apologies.
kevorkkalayjian@yahoo.com
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Information regarding the school
The school belongs to the AGBU. All information regarding the school should be inquired from the office of public records in Nicosia, Cyprus. If anybody needs any further information, please email us at admin@melkoniannews.org.
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INQUIRING
Hello, my name is Alik. i know i may not be right on topic, But i was wondering if anyone could help me find some information about school specifications, What building there are how much square meteres of land, and maybe floor plans of this institute. Because there are several Armenian people who wana get together and buy it to reopen the school but i need those specifications, if anyone could help me or direct me on the right path i would greatly appreciate it thank you.
Sicerely, Alik
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Yenovk Balikian's view
While praising AGBU's decision to close down M.E.I., none of Mr. Yenovk's given explanations are acceptable and convincing reasons to lead to the closure of this valuable school. It is a well known fact that the number of Armenians living outside Armenia is more than those living in the motherland. With some good positive vision, improvements and publicity, M.E.I. could have attracted a good number of Armenian students as a unique educational establishment serving mainly the Armenian diaspora. Despite the still unresolved, divided status of the island, the school's location in Cyprus - a member state of the EU- is considered very convenient. AGBU is not in Armenia and, to the best of my understanding, it has a more vital role to play in providing educational, social and cultural assistance to the Armenian communities in the diaspora than the Armenian people in Armenia! So it is an obvious deviation from its mission when it decided to use the proceeds of the sale of M.E.I. to build a center in Armenia! I think it is more important to think as to how to preserve what AGBU already has rather than think of the best ways of liquidating her assets to re-invest the proceeds in Armenia!
I am in favour of re-opening the Melkonian Educational Institute in Cyprus through a well planned, renewed vision which may both respect the will of its founders and place AGBU back on track of her nationally acclaimed mission.
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Melkonian
The way I see the decision to close the Melkonian has always been very simple. It is a matter of simple arithmetics and it goes like this. For the later year leadership of the AGBU specially after the collapse of the USSR and the independence of Armenia, it became obvious that the MEI was no longer churning out year after year a significant number of AGBU and Ramgavar cadres. The amount of money they were spending in the Melkonian could not warant for the political gains. They just calculated what all that expense was buying them and what could it buy if reinvested or redirected to Armenia. Obviously, that kind of money or in fact a lot less could buy so much more following and political clout in the newly formed Armenian political arena and among the empoverished and apoliticized population of the country. So they thought to hell with sentimentality, to hell with the Diaspora. Market values and market dynamics dictated that the shrewd move was to get rid of the MEI and 'honour' the Melkonian Brothers' legacy by building (cheaply) a few schools and clubs in Armenia.
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Yenovk's Argument
It's very unfortunate to come across people like Yenovk, disgrace themselves in a civilized Armenian community, trying to justify the failed leadership and unacceptable policy of Mr. Berj Setrakian. The blind followers of AGBU's current leadership, Yenovk, to name one of not so many, should give credit to the world wide Melkonian Alumni, led by Melkonian Alumni & Friends, for choosing the right path to stop AGBU and reopen Melkonian in Cyprus, and thus protect and preserve our Western Armenian Culture, Education and identity, at all cost.
Yes, it is very true that people come and go, but their actions should not be detrimental. They think they are doing the right thing, but when their actions prove to be false, we would be at a point of no return and it will be of no use to hold them accountable.
They, (AGBU) were planning and evaluating the status of Melkonian for 30 years. Thirty long years and they could not fix the problem. If Melkonian was "sick" for that long, I would have found the cure!
The Alumni was always there whenever there was a SOS call from the School Administration.
Mr. Setrakian has created a Gordian Knot. To untie it, he needs the sword of Alexander the Great.
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