Melkonian Educational Institute

More commonly known as Melkonian, or Melkonian Institute, the Melkonian Educational Institute (MEI) has been one of the primary Diaspora institutions of education during the post-Armenian Genocide 20th century. As conflicts throughout the middle east caused the Armenian population there to drop, and as Armenia gained independence, the importance of this institution has diminished.

After many rumors about the Armenian General Benevolent Union (AGBU) planning to close down this institution which it runs, and denial from AGBU of such plans, they finally came out and officially stated their intention to close and sell the institution. This decision was been fought by graduates of Melkonian, and they were able to have at least part of the campus declared a historic landmark in order to prevent the sale to developers for a rumored $70 million USD. The school was officially closed nevertheless, and students were transferred to the American Academy Nicosia for the 2005/06 school year.

See also

• Melkonian Educational Institute Alumni
• Cypriot Armenian Representative visits AGBU Central Office
• AGBU letter about closure of Melkonian Educational Institute

External Links

• http://www.agbuca.org/work/melkonian.html - MEI California Alumni
• http://www.angelfire.com/ar/melkonian/frames.html - a Melkonian site