| | Melkonian Alumni and Friends |
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CURRENT NEWS |
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IMPORTANT | |
| • Hokehankist reception in Pasadena, California at Garo Soghanalian Hall on January 17, 2010. AGBU CENTER, 1060 N. Allen Ave. Pasadena CA 91104, next to Vrej Pastry. |
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• Melkonian Memorial Service - Hokehankisd - Nicosia, Cyprus
Ceremony Start Time: Sunday, January 17 at 10:00am End Time: Sunday, January 17 at 12:00pm. At Sourp Asdvadzadzin Armenian Church - Melkonian Founders' monument. |
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• CoE calls on Cyprus to promote Armenian language (Updated Sept/2009) | |
Petition Results sent to the President of Cyprus.
| Worldwide Petition Results sent to the President of Cyprus and other Government Officials (Updated Aug/2009) | SCHOLARSIP Notice. ACT ASAP!
| 2009-2010 SCHOLARSHIPS Are Available for MEI Graduates | Read our blog.
| We moved our 'RESPONSES' to the blog section. We welcome all comments and responses. | |
EDITORIAL
The Melkonian Alumni and Friends wishes all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New.
We are excited about a rising new interest from the AYP Educational Foundation group regarding the future of Melkonian. We hope their involvement can bring a new vision that can convince the AGBU to reopen this venerable institution to Armenians all over the world.
We are also hopeful and confident that all Armenians will realize the importance of such a school in the diaspora, being the only school of its kind in existence. The value of Melkonian as a higher educational center with its location, standards and capacity to house students from different countries and enrich them with the Armenian Language, Values and History; is irreplaceable. Closing such an instotution it is un-Armenian, moreover it is definitly against the national interests of the republic of Armenia and the Armenian Diaspora.
Again we like to extend our holiday wishes to all our friends and their families for the new year.
Melkonian Alumni and Friends |
RESPONSES
In response to the news regarding the new plans for Melkonian to reopen the school...
Sireli baron Zohrab,
Lav lourert lousavorets mer pavagan mout aroryan.Vartskernit gadar,mer zoragtsoutyouneh geh haydnenk.Shenorhavor nor dari yev sourp dzenount. Harkanok Torkom
Hi Zohrab, Without getting too excited I must say that this is the best news that we could ever get around the end of this year. The best New Year's gift for all of us. I trust in the coming year the opening of our beloved school will be realized.
Armand.
Hi Zohrap,
These are great news, hopefully things will work out at the end.
I printed out these attachments and gave it to my mother (she is the Principal of the Armenian High school in Plovdiv) to distribute out as well.
Best Regards,
Haik |
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MUST READ
We have an eye opening, fact filled selection of articles in our Archive Section. (Updated 8/7) ...more...
CNA - Strasbourg-France 24/9/2009
 CoE calls on Cyprus to promote Armenian and Cypriot Maronite Arabic language By Nicos Rousis
Strasbourg, Sep 24 (CNA) – The Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe calls on Cyprus to adopt a structured policy to protect and promote the Armenian and Cypriot Maronite Arabic languages on the island. ...more...
European Charter (1/2005)
For Regional Or Minority Languages
 Presented to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe in accordance with Article 15 of the Charter, Cyprus.
"Cypriot Armenians attending the Melkonian Institute tuition is ... paid by the Government directly to the School." ...more...
Observations... (08/2009)
 ... the Cyprus government's educational report in 2004 states that the Melkonian is one of the most prominent schools on the island. Also, European institutions regarded Melkonian as a unique educational center for multilingualism. These are important points because they attract European funding. And "YES" Cyprus is the best location for the school not only geographically, but also politically because no other government can be as supportive (with its legislation) as Cyprus. In addition, the Cyprus government promised 150,000 CY Pounds to the school on the occasion of the 75th anniversary through the building of computer and language labs. Of course all plans were aborted because of the Central Board's decision.
Reopening Melkonian is extremely difficult, but not impossible.
The truth from the Chairman of MEI (2003)
Sent to us by the principal of the MEI, in which the Chairman of the Melkonian Educational Institute Board, Mr. SARKIS BUCHAKJIAN explains why the school should not be closed and/or relocated. Submitted just two years before the AGBU's decision to close the school.
The report concludes with the following plea.
"Some views suggest the relocation of MEI to Armenia, Lebanon or Bulgaria. These people are unaware of the unique advantages of MEI being in Cyprus."
"Apart from having established international academic standards, the comprehensive Armenian program consolidates the Armenian identity of our students who learn Armenian language, literature, history and art."
"MEI is a feather in AGBU’s hat and can become the jewel on its crown. Give MEI the chance it deserves. Give the Armenian children the chance to have a VIP passport through their education at MEI." ...more...
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IN THE NEWS
Aglandjia Gymnasium leaves Melkonian Christmas 2009
PHILELEFTHEROS (Aug. 25, 2009)
 www.melkonianforever.org reports that, according to an article published on August 25 2009, by Cyprus Greek newspaper Phileleftheros, Aglandjia Gymnasium will return to its building in January 2010, thus leaving the Melkonian Educational Institute buildings vacant.
"...Let us hope this is a positive thing, and that MEI will have a better future than just laying there..." adds melkonianforever.org. |
“Signatures collected for the Melkonian school”
-- The Armenians want it to reopen
PHILELEFTHEROS (Aug. 14, 2009)
The large worldwide campaign to collect signatures to save and reopen the historic Melkonian school has ended. More 6,800 signatures from around the world have been collected and sent to the President of the Republic, with copies to the Attorney General, the Minister of Interior and the Minister of Education, asking for the intervention of the Republic of Cyprus to operate the school once again as an educational institute with a boarding house. The signatures comprised of 1100 Armenians of Cyprus and Greek Cypriots, 1200 Armenians of Turkey, around 2,000 Armenians in America and the rest from different countries where Armenians live. The campaign took place through the Internet from last March to the end of May.
As is widely known, the operation of the Melkonian school was terminated two years ago by decision of the AGBU. Since then, efforts are underway led by the Armenians of Cyprus to reopen the school. In the past year, the Aglandjia Gymnasium has moved there after its own school building was considered unsuitable. FRIXOS DALITIS |
 Public Statement
Vartan Ozinian - Spokesman for Pro Edvcatio
June 10, 2009
We the, Pro Edvcatio international worldwide movement, join the voice of 200 (two hundred) persons for the proposal of the MEI’s reopening on its actual real estate as a secondary boarding school where the Western Armenian will be the compulsory main language of studies open to the worldwide learning horizons.
We consider the M E I's defence a duty for everybody being pro Human Rights. ...more...
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A sincere message from Alex Manoogian (1996)
Sent by AGBU's President Alex Manoogian and the Central Board of Directors, to the Melkonian Educational Institute's 70th anniversary celebration committee. In his letter, in the year 1996, the President of the General Benevolent Union, Mr. Manoogian (AGBU Chairman for Life) wrote...
"...Melkonian belongs to all of us, especially to the generations that received their education there, and with their collective determination it (the Melkonian School) should continue its traditional mission..."
"The closing of any educational institution is considered a national catastrophe for us, ...our wish is to keep the Melkonian School open forever..." ...more... |
Mr. Demetris Christofias, the President of The Republic of Cyprus during his visit to The Republic of Armenia and AZG Daily newspaper
July 08, 2009
 Mr. Christofias response about the situation of the Melkonian Educational Institute:
“We are in favor of seeing the Melkonian continue its existence, this is our policy. This is our feeling as well.”
“This is a complicated issue and complicated problem. We say that we are ready to solve the complex Cyprus problem through peaceful means and I hope that we can find the way to solve this issue as well through dialogue, for the benefit of Armenians of Cyprus, Lebanon, Armenia and the whole world.” ...more... |
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"No need to close Melkonian" emphasizes Patriarch (2005)
 ISTANBUL, March 13 (LRAPER Church Bulletin). His Beatitude Mesrob II, Armenian Patriarch of Istanbul and All Turkey, answered questions posed by the Noyan Tapan information agency.
Q. - How do you assess the AGBU announcement of their wish to establish a similar institution in Armenia, instead of keeping the Melkonian Educational Institute open?
A. - What does "similar" institution mean? How can the only Armenian senior high school operating in the European Union be replaced with a new school in Armenia? Opening a new school in Armenia will cost, with the most exaggerated estimate, 2-3 million US dollars. The AGBU elite or their flatterers can easily afford such a school in Armenia, so the closure of yet another school operating in Europe is not necessary at all. One ponders: if the land and buildings of the Melkonian Educational Institute are sold, the AGBU would earn, according to Cypriot Armenians, perhaps more than 120 million US dollars. There is also the Melkonian fund itself, which, according to experts, would comprise no less than 20 million US dollars if it has been reasonably managed. What are they going to do with this sum? Our people have a right to know. Karapet Melkonian was an ethnophile and he left his wealth to the children of his nation through this Patriarchal See. Thus, in the words of the Gospel, today we can all say to the AGBU "Give an account of thy stewardship." |
Congratulations:
Mr. Vartkes Kourouyan |
Congratulations:
Mr. Gerald Papasian |
| Recipient of Sts. Sahag and Mesrob Medal |
Recipient of the "Movses Khorenatsi" Medal |
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Mr. Kourouyan, principal of TCA Arshag Dickranian School in Hollywood, joined the rank of esteemed recipients of the Sts. Sahag and Mesrob Medal - granted by His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians.
Mr. Kourouyan is a Melkonian Graduate and has served as a teacher at the Melkonian Institute before coming to the US.
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Our congratulations to a very famous Melkoniantsi Mr. Gerald Papasian, actor, director, producer, writer and director of Tigran Chouhajian Research Center in Paris, was the recipient of the "Movses Khorenatsi" Medal of Honor in Yerevan, Armenia. Click Jirair Papazian Article to read the article in the Nor Or newspaper page 8, dated June 18 2009, written in Armenian
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