Tweet
Armenian National Committee of Massachusetts
47 Nichols Avenue
Watertown MA 02472
617-926-1918
[email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
October 1, 2008
Contact: 617-347-2833
Blue Cross Blue Shield Defies Watertown Town Council Unanimous Call
to Cut Ties with Controversial ADL Program
-- Disregards Armenian American Community Concerns
WATERTOWN, MA -Despite a unanimous vote by Watertown officials last
week and hundreds of letters from Massachusetts residents, Blue
Cross Blue Shield Massachusetts (BCBSMA) announced its plans to
support the Anti-Defamation League's "No Place for Hate" program,
despite that groups ongoing opposition to Armenian Genocide
recognition, reported the Armenian National Committee of
Massachusetts (ANC-MA)
BCBSMA's intentions were revealed on September 26th in what
appeared to be form letters sent to individuals and organizations,
who had expressed concerns about the healthcare giant's dubious
affiliation. "It had been our understanding that the ADL recognized
the terrible events perpetrated against the Armenian people between
1915 and 1923 as genocide," read the BCBSMA's email. "Therefore, in
response to the letters and emails 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."
The ADL's promises rang hollow to the Watertown Town Council and
the ANC MA. BCBSMA Senior Vice President for Public, Government and
Regulatory Affairs Jay Curley, during his presentation to the
Watertown Town Council last week, admitted that the ADL's
assurances were only verbal and that his organization was
"disappointed" with the tone and tenor of the communication from
ADL leader Abe Foxman. For more information on the Watertown
decision read:
http://www.anca.org/press_releases/press_releases .php?prid=3D1595
In July of this year, Foxman had traveled to Turkey to smooth over
relations with the Turkish government by reiterating the ADL's
opposition to Armenian Genocide legislation in the U.S. Congress.
According to a July 4th article by Herb Keinon in the Jerusalem
Post, Foxman urged President Gul and Prime Minister Erdogan to
strengthen relations with Armenia today, in hopes that "it will
place the historical issue in the background and be much easier to
deal with." Foxman went on to lecture the Armenian American
community on genocide recognition efforts, stating that pressure to
use "certain words they want us to use is not going to help one
Armenian."
"Foxman's verbal assertions to the BCBSMA fly in the face of his
statements in Turkey just three months ago, where he dared not
properly characterize the Armenian Genocide as 'genocide', lauded
the ADL's opposition to Congressional legislation on the issue, and
went so far as to advise the unrepentant perpetrators of Genocide
on how to sweep history under the rug," stated Ara Nazarian of the
ANC MA. "The Watertown Town Council and Massachusetts
Municipalities Authority saw through Foxman's charade. We expect
the BCBSMA to do so as well."
On September 29th, the ANC MA responded to the BCBSMA's letter,
stating: "We are very disappointed that Blue Cross Blue Shield has
decided to turn a blind eye to what is clearly genocide denial by
the Anti-Defamation League."
"The Armenian community has struggled against genocide denial for
ninety-three years. The entire community is united in its
determination to see justice prevail in this matter."
The complete text of the ANC MA letter to BCBSMA is provided below.
For more information visit
www.noplacefordenial.com.
#####
Complete Text of ANC MA letter to BCBSMA:
September 29, 2008
We are very disappointed that Blue Cross Blue Shield has decided to
turn a blind eye to what is clearly genocide denial by the Anti-
Defamation League.
Even assuming you were given assurances by the New England Regional
ADL that the organization acknowledges the Armenian Genocide, these
comments were made privately and verbally and, as such, are not
official and have no standing in the public arena. In addition, the
verbal assurances differ greatly from the only two official public
statements the ADL has made in this regard.
Furthermore, what the NE ADL asserts is simply not pertinent to the
issue. No Place for Hate is a registered trademark of, and is
owned and operated by, the national ADL.
It is true that the New England regional tried to persuade the
national ADL to issue an unequivocal statement recognizing the
Armenian Genocide at its national meeting last November. They
failed. The entire organization determined to let stand the August
2007 statement - which, as you know, does not meet international
standards for genocide recognition - as its official position on
the Armenian Genocide.
The Boston Globe reported that New England leaders were satisfied
with the outcome, quoting regional board chair James Rudolph as
saying, "I feel comfortable with it."
Nothing has changed since that time.
The Armenian community has struggled against genocide denial for
ninety-three years. The entire community is united in its
determination to see justice prevail in this matter.
We are saddened that Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts has
chosen to side with a genocide denier and not with human rights.
Sincerely,
Sharistan Melkonian
Armenian National Committee of Massachusetts
47 Nichols Avenue
Watertown MA 02472
617-926-1918
[email protected]
PRESS RELEASE
October 1, 2008
Contact: 617-347-2833
Blue Cross Blue Shield Defies Watertown Town Council Unanimous Call
to Cut Ties with Controversial ADL Program
-- Disregards Armenian American Community Concerns
WATERTOWN, MA -Despite a unanimous vote by Watertown officials last
week and hundreds of letters from Massachusetts residents, Blue
Cross Blue Shield Massachusetts (BCBSMA) announced its plans to
support the Anti-Defamation League's "No Place for Hate" program,
despite that groups ongoing opposition to Armenian Genocide
recognition, reported the Armenian National Committee of
Massachusetts (ANC-MA)
BCBSMA's intentions were revealed on September 26th in what
appeared to be form letters sent to individuals and organizations,
who had expressed concerns about the healthcare giant's dubious
affiliation. "It had been our understanding that the ADL recognized
the terrible events perpetrated against the Armenian people between
1915 and 1923 as genocide," read the BCBSMA's email. "Therefore, in
response to the letters and emails 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."
The ADL's promises rang hollow to the Watertown Town Council and
the ANC MA. BCBSMA Senior Vice President for Public, Government and
Regulatory Affairs Jay Curley, during his presentation to the
Watertown Town Council last week, admitted that the ADL's
assurances were only verbal and that his organization was
"disappointed" with the tone and tenor of the communication from
ADL leader Abe Foxman. For more information on the Watertown
decision read:
http://www.anca.org/press_releases/press_releases .php?prid=3D1595
In July of this year, Foxman had traveled to Turkey to smooth over
relations with the Turkish government by reiterating the ADL's
opposition to Armenian Genocide legislation in the U.S. Congress.
According to a July 4th article by Herb Keinon in the Jerusalem
Post, Foxman urged President Gul and Prime Minister Erdogan to
strengthen relations with Armenia today, in hopes that "it will
place the historical issue in the background and be much easier to
deal with." Foxman went on to lecture the Armenian American
community on genocide recognition efforts, stating that pressure to
use "certain words they want us to use is not going to help one
Armenian."
"Foxman's verbal assertions to the BCBSMA fly in the face of his
statements in Turkey just three months ago, where he dared not
properly characterize the Armenian Genocide as 'genocide', lauded
the ADL's opposition to Congressional legislation on the issue, and
went so far as to advise the unrepentant perpetrators of Genocide
on how to sweep history under the rug," stated Ara Nazarian of the
ANC MA. "The Watertown Town Council and Massachusetts
Municipalities Authority saw through Foxman's charade. We expect
the BCBSMA to do so as well."
On September 29th, the ANC MA responded to the BCBSMA's letter,
stating: "We are very disappointed that Blue Cross Blue Shield has
decided to turn a blind eye to what is clearly genocide denial by
the Anti-Defamation League."
"The Armenian community has struggled against genocide denial for
ninety-three years. The entire community is united in its
determination to see justice prevail in this matter."
The complete text of the ANC MA letter to BCBSMA is provided below.
For more information visit
www.noplacefordenial.com.
#####
Complete Text of ANC MA letter to BCBSMA:
September 29, 2008
We are very disappointed that Blue Cross Blue Shield has decided to
turn a blind eye to what is clearly genocide denial by the Anti-
Defamation League.
Even assuming you were given assurances by the New England Regional
ADL that the organization acknowledges the Armenian Genocide, these
comments were made privately and verbally and, as such, are not
official and have no standing in the public arena. In addition, the
verbal assurances differ greatly from the only two official public
statements the ADL has made in this regard.
Furthermore, what the NE ADL asserts is simply not pertinent to the
issue. No Place for Hate is a registered trademark of, and is
owned and operated by, the national ADL.
It is true that the New England regional tried to persuade the
national ADL to issue an unequivocal statement recognizing the
Armenian Genocide at its national meeting last November. They
failed. The entire organization determined to let stand the August
2007 statement - which, as you know, does not meet international
standards for genocide recognition - as its official position on
the Armenian Genocide.
The Boston Globe reported that New England leaders were satisfied
with the outcome, quoting regional board chair James Rudolph as
saying, "I feel comfortable with it."
Nothing has changed since that time.
The Armenian community has struggled against genocide denial for
ninety-three years. The entire community is united in its
determination to see justice prevail in this matter.
We are saddened that Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts has
chosen to side with a genocide denier and not with human rights.
Sincerely,
Sharistan Melkonian
Armenian National Committee of Massachusetts