By Jean Christou
THE CLOSURE of the Melkonian Educational Institute (MEI) in Nicosia was discussed yesterday during discussions between Foreign Minister George Iacovou and his Armenian counterpart Vartan Oskanian, who is on an official visit to the island.
Speaking after the meeting, Oskanian said the issue was discussed with Iacovou, as well as Interior Minister Andreas Christou and Nicosia Mayor Michael Zampelas.
“This is an issue that concerns the Government of Armenia and I simply heard the views of the Cypriot government officials as to what they think about the future of the school; I should also say that I met with the community members yesterday and I focused on the Melkonian’s closure,” he added.
“We in Armenia like to see a solution to this issue that will meet the needs of everyone,” the Armenian Foreign Minister said, adding Armenia was ready to offer its good offices, if it could be of any help, to reach a positive conclusion to this issue.
Last month, the government slapped a preservation order on the Melkonian, giving the school, slated to close next year, a temporary reprieve from the developers, but so far there are no assurances about the school’s continuation beyond June 2005, after which a good number of Armenian students living in Cyprus would be deprived of a national-language school, while boarding students would be sent home.
The central board of the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) in New York said in March that the 78-year old school should close in June 2005.
The loss-making Melkonian is sitting on a £40 million plot in the capital’s commercial district and reports have been rife that it is up for grabs by developers.
The AGBU said in November that the school was not for sale but then changed tack and announced the closure. The schools alumni are convinced the foundation’s only aim is to “take the money and run”.
Staff at the school are also outraged over comments by the AGBU that the standard of education at the MEI was not up to scratch, and threatened this week to take industrial action.
Iacovou and Oskanian also discussed the Cyprus issue, the island’s EU accession and relations with Armenia during yesterday’s meeting
Oskanian stressed the importance of Cyprus’ accession to the EU for Armenia. “We see Cyprus as a friendly country, as an insider in the EU and that we can rely on its help to further advance our integration processes with European structures and particularly with the EU,” he said.
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