Po-Turkish activities of Philip Morris
Yerkir/am
October 22, 2004
Recently, Philip Morris was engaged in a financial scandal and in this
connection the company was ordered to declassify its correspondence
of past few years. The following is an interesting letter revealed
due to declassification.
PHILIP MORRIS MANAGEMENT CORP. INTER-OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE
1341 G STREET, N.W., SUITE 900,
WASHINGTON, D.C., 20005
TO: Guy Smith
FROM: Jim Dyer
SUBJECT: Armenian Genocide
DATE: October 17, 1989
Senator Bob Dole’s recent trip to Soviet Armenia has helped rekindle
his long standing support for a resolution commemorating the purported
genocide committed against the Armenians by the Ottoman Turks in 1911.
This is an extremely sensitive issue in U.S.-Turkish relations and,
if passed, it would severely damage those relations. At present,
all of the action is in the Senate, although Representative Bonior
(D-MI) has introduced a resolution in the House.
The Senate Judiciary Committee, by a vote of 8 to 6, reported an
Armenian Genocide resolution today. Senator Dole has told the
Administration that he will keep the bill off the Senate floor
until next February, at the earliest. At that time, I expect Senator
Robert Byrd (D-WV) to put a hold on the bill, thereby, delaying its
consideration further.
There are a number of things that can be done to kill tiffs
resolution, including: — getting a strong veto statement out of
the White House. — using Senator Byrd’s opposition (his son-in-law
is Turkish). getting the Members and Senators with strong defense
interests to speak out about the dangers of damaging U.S.-Turkish
relations. drafting substitute language that condemns genocide world
wide, yet takes the focus off Armenia. I shall continue to have
conversations with all interested parties. However, I am sensitive
to our need to do nothing to upset Senator Dole.
He is too valuable a friend to alienate over this issue. So is David
Bonior Meanwhile, the Bush Administration has finally come out in
opposition to the resolution. This opposition comes despite an apparent
Bush campaign pledge to somehow “recognize the Armenian genocide”. NSC
Administrator Scowcroft, Defense Secretary Cheney, and Secretary of
State Baker will strongly oppose the resolution within the White House.
Representatives of tile Turkish government have contacted Philip Morris
International asking for us to weigh in against the resolution. We
have advised them we are aware of the problem, understanding of their
concern, and confident that this resolution will not be enacted. I
shall keep you abreast of any further developments.