COALITION AGAINST ARMENIAN GENOCIDE RESOLUTION CONTINUES TO UNRAVEL
ArmRadio.am
05.04.2007 10:45
Major US companies continue to distance themselves from two corporate
coalitions that are publicly backing the Turkish government’s campaign
against the Armenian Genocide Resolution, according to documents
released today by the Armenian National Committee of America.
The American Turkish Council (ATC) and the American Business Forum in
Turkey (ABFT), both coalitions claiming to represent US corporations
doing business in Turkey, have each publicly – and aggressively –
opposed the adoption by Congress of legislation recognizing the
Armenian Genocide.
In response to these efforts, the ANCA sent formal letters last
month to each member of the two coalitions, requesting that they
clarify their position on the Armenian Genocide Resolution. To date,
the ANCA has received written confirmation from a number of these
companies that they are not opposed to the adoption of the Armenian
Genocide Resolution. Among these are several major multinationals,
such as Microsoft, Xerox, American Express, Altria, Johnson & Johnson,
FedEx, and Cargill.
Leonard W. Condon, Vice President of Altria’s International Business
Relations, explained in a letter to the ANCA that: "Our international
tobacco company, Philip Morris International (PMI) is a member of
the Turkish American Council. However, neither PMI nor Altria have
taken a position – and neither company plans to take a position –
on the proposed Resolution." Altria is ranked 20th on the Fortune
500 and had revenues last year of $101.4 billion.
Thomas Schick, the Executive Vice President for American Express
Corporate Affairs and Communications, in a letter to ANCA, wrote:
"Please be assured that, as a matter of company policy, American
Express does not take a position on issues before any legislative
body that do not directly affect our company." American Express is
ranked 69th on the Fortune 500 and brought in revenues during 2006
of $30.08 billion.