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Armenian MP Vartkes Mahdessian Addresses Gibrahayer Issues In Interv

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  • Armenian MP Vartkes Mahdessian Addresses Gibrahayer Issues In Interv

    ARMENIAN MP VARTKES MAHDESSIAN ADDRESSES GIBRAHAYER ISSUES IN INTERVIEW WITH CYPRUS NEWS AGENCY

    Financial Mirror
    July 10

    Representative of the Armenian religious group at the House of
    Representatives Vartkes Mahdessian will not be raising an issue
    of right to vote in the parliament so as not to complicate matters
    regarding the Cyprus problem with the changes to the Constitution
    that this move would demand, but intends nevertheless to discuss his
    participation in meetings of the House Defence Committee after the
    decision for obligatory army service of male members of religious
    groups.

    In an interview with CNA, Mahdessian describes his seat in the
    parliament as iconic but notes that much progress has been made and
    expresses hope that over the remaining three years of his term he
    would manage to meet the aims set out by the religious group.

    He adds that a quarterly bulletin is posted to all members of the
    religious group, containing his activities, and that he operates a
    well-equipped office with full-time staff, while committees of the
    religious group have been active in various fields and have produced
    results.

    Asked if the representation of the religious groups in the House of
    Representatives is satisfactory, Mahdessian notes that "sometimes I
    feel our presence is iconic."

    "We participate in the House Education Committee and I must admit that
    its Chairman, in all meetings, gives us the floor, but we cannot submit
    draft legislation, we cannot vote in the Committee or the Plenary,
    and these are disadvantages," he points out.

    Mahdessian wants the criterion for knowledge of the Greek language in
    order to qualify for a position in the civil service and other sectors
    to be revised, so that the members of the Armenian religious group
    are not at a disadvantage compared to the Greek Cypriot applicants.

    He also requests the reappointment of the Presidential Commissioner
    for Religious Groups, who will coordinate and monitor the course of
    various problems faced by the religious groups, namely the Armenians,
    Maronites and Latins.

    Mahdessian says the decision of the University of Cyprus to enroll
    students with international exams opens new horizons, adding that
    Cyprus should learn to behave as a European country.

    He furthermore expresses hope that Melkonian, the Armenian school,
    and the woods around it, with each tree being planted by an orphan
    whose parents were killed during the Armenian Genocide, will be
    spared from commercial construction. Mahdessian notes that for the
    time being the issue is at a standstill, since it is being used to
    host a state school.

    Mahdessian says the Armenians of Cyprus did not have a say in the final
    decision, since the decision-making centre is in New York. However,
    he managed, in cooperation with the Ministry of the Interior, to
    register Melkonian as a protected building.

    Replying to questions, Mahdessian said a total of 165 children are
    enrolled at the Nareg junior schools in Nicosia, Limassol and Larnaca.

    Regarding the Armenian monastery in the Turkish occupied areas,
    Mahdessian notes that it is dilapidated with no immediate prospects
    of restoration, adding that for the first time since the 1974 Turkish
    invasion about 250 Armenians were allowed to organise a pilgrimage
    to the monastery, not without obstacles.

    Asked about his relationship with Yerevan, capital of Armenia,
    Mahdessian says efforts were being made to promote contact with the
    Armenian Ambassador in Athens, who is however accredited to other
    countries as well.

    "Armenia is a new state and is facing huge problems but we are trying
    with all our might to further improve the relationship between Cyprus
    and Armenia, which is friendly," he points out.
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