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Patriarchate Chancellor Remarks On the Melkonian Grant

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  • Patriarchate Chancellor Remarks On the Melkonian Grant

    PRESS RELEASE

    Contact: Deacon Vagarsag Seropyan
    Lraper Bulletin
    Armenian Patriarchate
    TR-34130 Kumkapi, Istanbul
    T: +90 (212) 517-0970
    F: +90 (212) 516-4833

    [email protected]

    Patriarchate Chancellor Remarks On the Melkonian Grant

    Concerning the press release of the AGBU Central Board of Directors,
    on the lawsuit filed by His Beatitude Mesrob II, Armenian Patriarch of
    Istanbul and all Turkey, the Revd. Dr. Krikor Damadyan, the Chancellor
    of the Patriarchal See, made the following statement:

    "It is difficult to comprehend how the closure of a prestigious school
    in the Middle East, and one of the very few Armenian educational
    institutions in the European Union could be in the best interests of
    the Armenian nation. We believe that this decision, taken by a few
    executives, is a wrong one.

    "The AGBU Central Board of Directors claims that it will continue to
    honour the vision of its many generous benefactors including the late
    Garabed Melkonian, for the benefit of all Armenians worldwide. This
    is a remarkable statement since the AGBU is confessing publicly that
    the Armenians in Turkey are not considered part of "all Armenians
    worldwide," since, unlike the Gulbenkian Foundation and the Apcarian
    Trust, the AGBU has not taken much interest in how Armenians in Turkey
    have wrestled to maintain their community organisations during the
    last seventy-five years. However, we do acknowledge receipt of minor
    sums sent us by donors through AGBU means.

    "The only way to honour the vision of the Melkonian Brothers is to
    keep the Melkonian Educational Institute in Cyprus open. The AGBU
    should refrain from closing down the MEI and selling the property,
    lest she should declare herself untrustworthy before all Armenians
    worldwide. Why should people make grants to a charity organisation such
    as the AGBU, if following their demise a few executives will deal with
    the grant in a way that will not do justice to the benefactor's memory?

    "The AGBU should also publish how she has executed the Melkonian Trust
    since 1926. As the present successor to Patriarch Zaven of blessed
    memory, His Beatitude Patriarch Mesrob takes dutiful interest as to
    whether the terms of the grant have been implemented responsibly. Every
    charity organisation should be accountable to the public and should
    not take offense when asked for accounts. AGBU executives who donate
    their own family wealth on charity are appreciated dearly by all
    Armenians worldwide. Nevertheless, that should not allow them any
    right to do as they please with the grants made by other benefactors.

    "His Beatitude Patriarch Mesrob has magnanimously made it known to
    those Californian Armenians who would like to act as mediators that
    he would be willing to receive a delegation in Istanbul in order
    to discuss a meaningful settlement of this critically important
    issue to the Armenians of Europe. Great justice will be done if the
    AGBU reverses her decision to close down the Melkonian Educational
    Institute. This is our Patriarchate's wish and prayer, as also
    expressed by numerous Melkonian alumni worldwide. "

    From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
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