“PRO EDUCATIO” is a worldwide forum which deals with educational matters. “GRTASSERE” is a “PRO EDUCATIO” panel constituted by Armenians of Diaspora and non-Armenians, which deals with Armenian educational issues.
The last communiqu? of this forum was issued on 30th March 2006. It refers to the centennial celebrations of AGBU in Egypt, in a time when the same organization is responsible for the closure of Melkonian Educational Institute (MEI) in
The communiqu? says “It is ironic that AGBU meets in
The above statement is followed with questions directed to the ordinary AGBU members in
The communiqu? then discusses the situation of the Cairo Armenian cemetery claiming that “The condition of the graves in which the bones of benefactors and intellectuals are buried is deplorable”.
Azad-Hye thinks that the AGBU members in
We believe that the closure of MEI is in no way justifiable, especially that it was the only
Meanwhile we should be careful not to antagonize the ordinary members of AGBU with highly confrontational ideas. Instead we should urge them to form legitimate pressure on the upper circles of their organization, utilizing the power of the “will of the people”.
Below is the full text of the communiqu? followed with the link for the Armenian text:
C O M M U N I Q U E
E-mail: [email protected]
30th March 2006
THE CENTENIAL OF AGBU IN
In accordance with the wishes of its Central Board of Directors, the centennial celebration of the founding of AGBU will take place in
In the ensuing one hundred years much has changed in the demographic and political map of the Armenian Diaspora, as well as in its outlook, opinions and needs. In response to these changes, various approaches have been proposed to insure the continuation of the Armenian entity in changing times. Incredibly, the present Central Board of Directors (CBD) of AGBU has chosen the closing of Armenian schools as a strategy for preserving the Armenian entity. Even a school such as the Melkonian Educational Institute (MEI), which belongs neither to AGBU nor to its CBD, is subject to this ill-conceived strategy. It should not matter how much money is donated by the members, the directors and their families to AGBU; their generosity does not bestow on them ownership rights to MEI. Does the biggest tax payer or donor to the treasury of
The AGBU was founded on the initiative of progressive individuals, whose creed was transparency and accountability in all transactions of the organization. In contrast the present administration of AGBU has been anything but transparent in its management responsibilities regarding MEI. Financial disclosures in and by themselves are not sufficient to discharge the responsibility they assumed regarding MEI. The CBD and its followers have the amazing belief that closing the Armenian schools of a region, and forcing the students against their and their parents will, to attend non-Armenian schools, promotes the preservation of the Armenian identity. Pursuing such bizarre theories may satisfy their ego for the moment, but if implemented it will sooner or later doom them to failure with the tragic consequence of the disappearance of the the Armenian Diaspora. Furthermore, the action of CBD constitutes a violation of Human Rights making AGBU liable for punitive fines.
It is ironic that AGBU meets in
It would have been more proper to celebrate the centennial of AGBU worldwide by all Armenians without any distinction of religious, social and political affiliation?but without the participation of a CBD and its followers who dare to undertake the destruction of the Armenian Diaspora by eradicating its Armenian schools. For the Egyptian branch of AGBU it is preferable by far that its monetary contributions be directed to the essential and laudable operations of AGBU as in the saving of the comprehensive collection from the Egyptian-Armenian Press in the recent past with their timely intervention, safeguarding a cultural landmark for the benefit of future Armenians.
Unfortunately, the situation of the
How can one celebrate a 100th, a 1600th or 1700th anniversary when to these dates inevitably and irrevocably are attached names of those whose neglected and ruined graves lie in an Armenian cemetery? In contrast, the Armenian cemetery in
Another type of transfer is called for in the case of the Melkonian Educational Institute and the Melkonian Will of which AGBU is solely its administrator. If AGBU does not wish to continue its management function, then it should transfer its responsibility to another legal caretaker in order that the vital mission of MEI to the Armenian Diaspora can continue on its present land and campus. In celebrating the centennial of AGBU it is important that the fundamental principles of its founding are kept in mind. Otherwise this venerable Union instead of being General becomes the Private Partnership of a group of people regardless of what name this group uses in
Vartan Ozinian,
Spokesman of Pro Edvacatio
Click here for the Armenian text (PDF Format)