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MELKONIAN ED. INSTITUTE FOR SYRIAN-ARMENIAN STUDENTS
For the Armenian text click here
January 19, 2014
Berj Setrakian, Esq., President Honorable Members
A.G.B.U. Central Board
New York
Dear Mr. Setrakian:
With this Appeal - Open Letter we appeal to you to reopen The Melkonian
Educational Institute, especially for Armenian students from Syria.
As you are aware, a terrible civil war has been taking place in
Syria for the last 3 years. Factions from all sides are shooting and
bombing each other without distinction. Armenians living in Aleppo,
Damascus, Kamishly, Kessab, and other regions of Syria are falling
victims to this terrible situation. Surly, you are privy to more
detailed accounts of the devastation and slayings that Armenians in
Syria, namely Armenian youth, are suffering. Armenian schools remain
partially open, but are in constant danger of attacks. Thousands
of Syrian-Armenians have been forced to leave their homes and seek
residence in Armenia and Artsakh, Jordan, Lebanon, or elsewhere.
Today, the Armenian youth who attend schools in Syria live in constant
fear and anxiety of getting killed. They are also exposed to the other
psychological and emotional traumas of living through war. There is
no safety, and living conditions are unbearable. In parts of Aleppo,
food and water are scarce. It is crucial, that we act now to lend a
helping hand and move these youth to safety.
In light of the horrific and volatile state of Syrian affairs, we
urge The Honorable Central Board to retract its decision to close
the Melkonian Institute, particularly since this motion would free
Armenian students from their daily struggles in Syria. We believe that
financial considerations run secondary to the need to execute this
philanthropic initiative. For the past eight years after the closure
of the Melkonian Institute, the accumulated funds to the Benefactors'
huge Bequest have significantly multiplied due to income generated by
commercial structures built on Melkonian property. Also, because these
students are technically refugees, various international organizations,
the United Nations, American Red Cross, and others would be willing to
assist. We are sure that your legal and public relations advisors could
find the financial means necessary to reopen the Melkonian Institute.
The reestablishment of the Melkonian Institute would provide a
safe haven in which approximately 1000 students would receive a
high-quality education right away. In addition, it will build upon
Melkonian's mission as a major center for educating Armenian youth and
preventing the loss of the western Armenian dialect. This should be at
the forefront of A.G.B.U's objectives. No other Armenian organization,
not even the Armenian Church, can accomplish this mission.
Considering the severity and seriousness of the above-mentioned set
of circumstances, we formally propose that you withdraw your decision
to close The Melkonian Educational Institute, and reopen it without
delay. While A.G.B.U's ongoing efforts to help Syrian Armenians are
widely appreciated, we believe the venture to reopen The Melkonian
Institute will offer invaluable benefits to this community of Armenians
and inevitably build upon the merits of the A.G.B.U's organization.
We also propose that the humanitarian aid being provided by A.G.B.U.
to Armenia be primarily allocated to the cause of Armenian refugees
from Syria, who are settling in Armenia and Artsakh.
We trust that your consideration of this plight will be fueled by
benevolence and logicality.
Thanking you in advance,
A group of Melkonian Graduates
Note: All those Armenians who are in agreement to reopen the Melkonian
Educational Institute mainly for the Syrian-Armenian students, please
complete and sign the provided e-mail form and send it to the assigned
e-mail address.
Visit Melkonian Forever Main Page and send your support by e-mail
[email protected] or via Feedback.
Thank You
http://www.keghart.com/Melkonian-Syrian-Students
From: Baghdasarian
For the Armenian text click here
January 19, 2014
Berj Setrakian, Esq., President Honorable Members
A.G.B.U. Central Board
New York
Dear Mr. Setrakian:
With this Appeal - Open Letter we appeal to you to reopen The Melkonian
Educational Institute, especially for Armenian students from Syria.
As you are aware, a terrible civil war has been taking place in
Syria for the last 3 years. Factions from all sides are shooting and
bombing each other without distinction. Armenians living in Aleppo,
Damascus, Kamishly, Kessab, and other regions of Syria are falling
victims to this terrible situation. Surly, you are privy to more
detailed accounts of the devastation and slayings that Armenians in
Syria, namely Armenian youth, are suffering. Armenian schools remain
partially open, but are in constant danger of attacks. Thousands
of Syrian-Armenians have been forced to leave their homes and seek
residence in Armenia and Artsakh, Jordan, Lebanon, or elsewhere.
Today, the Armenian youth who attend schools in Syria live in constant
fear and anxiety of getting killed. They are also exposed to the other
psychological and emotional traumas of living through war. There is
no safety, and living conditions are unbearable. In parts of Aleppo,
food and water are scarce. It is crucial, that we act now to lend a
helping hand and move these youth to safety.
In light of the horrific and volatile state of Syrian affairs, we
urge The Honorable Central Board to retract its decision to close
the Melkonian Institute, particularly since this motion would free
Armenian students from their daily struggles in Syria. We believe that
financial considerations run secondary to the need to execute this
philanthropic initiative. For the past eight years after the closure
of the Melkonian Institute, the accumulated funds to the Benefactors'
huge Bequest have significantly multiplied due to income generated by
commercial structures built on Melkonian property. Also, because these
students are technically refugees, various international organizations,
the United Nations, American Red Cross, and others would be willing to
assist. We are sure that your legal and public relations advisors could
find the financial means necessary to reopen the Melkonian Institute.
The reestablishment of the Melkonian Institute would provide a
safe haven in which approximately 1000 students would receive a
high-quality education right away. In addition, it will build upon
Melkonian's mission as a major center for educating Armenian youth and
preventing the loss of the western Armenian dialect. This should be at
the forefront of A.G.B.U's objectives. No other Armenian organization,
not even the Armenian Church, can accomplish this mission.
Considering the severity and seriousness of the above-mentioned set
of circumstances, we formally propose that you withdraw your decision
to close The Melkonian Educational Institute, and reopen it without
delay. While A.G.B.U's ongoing efforts to help Syrian Armenians are
widely appreciated, we believe the venture to reopen The Melkonian
Institute will offer invaluable benefits to this community of Armenians
and inevitably build upon the merits of the A.G.B.U's organization.
We also propose that the humanitarian aid being provided by A.G.B.U.
to Armenia be primarily allocated to the cause of Armenian refugees
from Syria, who are settling in Armenia and Artsakh.
We trust that your consideration of this plight will be fueled by
benevolence and logicality.
Thanking you in advance,
A group of Melkonian Graduates
Note: All those Armenians who are in agreement to reopen the Melkonian
Educational Institute mainly for the Syrian-Armenian students, please
complete and sign the provided e-mail form and send it to the assigned
e-mail address.
Visit Melkonian Forever Main Page and send your support by e-mail
[email protected] or via Feedback.
Thank You
http://www.keghart.com/Melkonian-Syrian-Students
From: Baghdasarian