CHEVRON RESPONDS TO NATIONAL CAMPAIGN EXPOSING "PROFIT FROM GENOCIDE DENIAL" SCHEME
armradio.am
24.07.2009 16:22
Chevron Corporation tried to explain away its opposition to
Congressional legislation affirming the Armenian Genocide, using
the standard Turkish and Azerbaijani government talking points to
justify their complicity in denying this crime against humanity,
reported the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF).
"As a major energy producer in the region, we support the integrity
of multiple energy transportation routes and a diplomatic relationship
between Turkey and Armenia," Chevron spokesman Justin Higgs announced,
adding that the genocide resolution, "would have hurt, not helped,
relations between Turkey and Armenia."
"An enduring diplomatic relationship between Turkey and Armenia can
only be based on truth," said AYF San Francisco chapter chairman Matt
Senekeremian, leading the Bay Area protest. "Lobbying against the
Armenian Genocide resolution is a pure and simple case of profiting
from the denial of the murder of 1.5 million men, women and children –
a short-sighted policy which only serves to fuel greater instability
in the region."
Chevron’s comments came as the Armenian Youth Federation (AYF)
joined with Armenian Americans and human rights activists in
kicking off a nationwide campaign to raise awareness about Turkish
Government coercion of the energy giant and some five multinational
corporations currently lobbying against Armenian Genocide legislation
(H.Res.252). The resolution, spearheaded by Representatives Adam Schiff
(D-CA), George Radanovich (R-CA), and Congressional Armenian Caucus
Co-Chairs Frank Pallone and Mark Kirk, has over 125 cosponsors.
Rep. Schiff chastised Chevron and the other corporations for opposing
the Genocide resolution, noting "I don’t think any major American
corporation should be lobbying against the genocide recognition
and become complicit in another country’s genocide denial," Schiff
told the Glendale News-Press. "I don’t think that’s being a good
corporate citizen. It’s certainly putting profits in front of the
public interest."
The protests began on July 22, 2009 at the Chevron headquarters in
San Ramon, California and local stations across the U.S., including
sites in Burbank, La Crescenta, Pasadena, San Fernando Valley,
Orange County, Glendale, Fresno, as well as Bethesda, MD, Orlando,
FL and Philadelphia, PA.
An online letter writing campaign to Chevron CEO Dave O’Reilly was
launched in conjunction with the protests, urging the company to
publicly apologize for profiting from Genocide denial. A copy of the
letter was hand delivered to the Chevron corporate headquarters by
protesters in San Ramon.
Concerned about public response to their action, Chevron’s corporate
headquarters had alerted their franchisees about the AYF led protest
prior to the campaign launch. Washington, DC area protesters also
reported that Chevron had sent their own photographers to the protest.
Protests were covered in local newspapers, including the Orlando
Sentinel, where AYF Keri chapter member Raffi Mekhdjavakian explained
"It’s contradictory of Chevron to have their motto ‘The Chevron way’
and say that they are responsible and ethical when they are lobbying
against a human rights situation," said Raffi Mekhdjavakian, an
Oviedo resident with the Armenian youth group. "If [the genocide]
is denied it’s as if it never happened."
"Clearly, Turkey will spare to no expense to cover up its dark
past,"said AYF Western Region Chairman Vache Thomassian. "Coercing
corporations like Chevron to do its dirty deeds is just the latest
tactic – exporting genocide denial to our neighborhoods, one gas
station at a time."
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
