Alumni satisfied with deal, but remain cautious
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The New York-based Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) has offered temporary use of the Melkonian school’s abandoned premises in
In an agreement that was signed last Wednesday between Education Minister Akis Cleanthous and the AGBU representatives in
Aglandjia gymnasium has been facing construction problems for years, with teachers, parents and pupils repeatedly expressing their concern over the safety of the building.
The situation reached a climax last April when two construction workers died while working at the gymnasium. The earth collapsed around them as they were digging a hole, burying them alive.
Parents, teachers and pupils refused to attend the school until drastic measures had been taken to ensure their safety.
“When the Armenian representative in parliament, Vartkes Mahdessian, was first approached by the Minister of Education on April 25, the intention was to go ahead and provide [the grounds of the Melkonian Educational Institute] free of charge, but the decision was up to the administrators in New York,†the Alumni Association of Cyprus said in an announcement.
The association, the local branch of the organization that represents some 2,200 graduates of the historic school, greeted the latest agreement with initial satisfaction.
“It had been the intention of the Armenian community of
“Although we are not yet aware of all the details surrounding the deal, we are waiting to see what limitations or clauses, if any, were imposed on the
“We have assurances from the Education Ministry as well as the Attorney General’s office that the lease agreement has no bearing whatsoever on the heritage preservation order that protects 60% of the Melkonian estate, including the historic buildings, the founders’ villa and mausoleum, as well as the small forest along Limassol Avenue that some people are so desperate to cut down and sell,†the Alumni concluded.
An announcement from the Ministry of Education said that the multi-purpose sports hall as well as the school’s auditorium, “will be made available to the AGBU and to the Armenians, during times that will not conflict with the school’s hours.â€
News reports last week said that a high-ranking official from the AGBU in
AGBU President Berg Setrakian said in a statement issued in
The only acknowledgement of the school’s contribution to Cyprus society came from the Minister of Education who said that, “the Melkonian Educational Institute, the most renowned co-educational institution of Cypriot Armenians, has been one of the primary Diaspora institutions of education during the post-Armenian Genocide 20th century. It was a boarding school of high academic standard located in
No mention was made of the AGBU’s decision to close the school after 79 years nor any explanation was given to the reasons that led to the closure.