BLUE CROSS RESPONDS TO THE ARMENIAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE OF MASSACHUSETTS
Watertown TAB & Press
Thu Oct 09, 2008, 03:52 PM EDT
MA
WATERTOWN –
Here is an e-mail from Blue Cross to Sharistan Melkonian of the
Armenian National Committee of Massachusetts:
Dear Ms. Melkonian:
Several executives at Blue Cross Blue Shield received e-mails from you
asking Blue Cross Blue Shield to withdraw its support for No Place
for Hate (NPFH) based on your assertion that the Anti-Defamation
League (ADL) has denied the Armenian Genocide. I am responding on
our collective behalf.
It had been our understanding that the ADL recognized the terrible
events perpetrated against the Armenian people between 1915 and 1923
as genocide. Therefore, in response to the letters and e-mails we
received, and because Blue Cross Blue Shield firmly believes there
should be no ambiguity on this issue, senior executives met directly
with representatives of the ADL to ask for clarification. At that
meeting, our CEO asked the ADL leaders about the organization’s
"official" position. He was assured that the ADL unequivocally
recognizes the killing of more than one and a half million Armenians
as genocide.
I know from my personal meeting with you how strongly you feel about
this issue. Thank you for expressing your thoughts to us. We hope
this has been helpful in clarifying our position.
Fredi Shonkoff Senior Vice President Corporate Relations