Letter to Senate Foreign Relations Committee regarding nominee

  • On August 3, 2009, Investors Against Genocide and Genocide Intervention Network sent a letter to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee with regards to the nomination of Robert Hormats as Undersecretary of State for Economic, Energy and Agricultural Affairs.
  • The letter raised concerns about the role Mr. Hormats played in facilitating the IPO of PetroChina in 2000 and requested that this episode and his current views on the matter be explored during the confirmation process. 
  • Human Rights Groups Question Role State Department Nominee Played in Company Active In Sudan, ABC News, 08-03-2009
  • Rights groups urge scrutiny of Obama pick over Sudan role, AFP, 08-03-2009
  • Click here for the text of the letter

    "In light of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Darfur and CNPC/PetroChina’s continued ties to the Government of Sudan through the country’s oil industry, Mr. Hormats should be provided ample opportunity to address his judgment on PetroChina and role in its IPO.

    We request that you question Mr. Hormats on:
      1. His current view, in contrast to his view at the time of the IPO, of the dangers of investments in PetroChina helping to fund the regime in Khartoum.
      2. His willingness, now, to make a clear and public statement recognizing that PetroChina is helping to fund atrocities in Sudan and to admit that his support of the IPO was a mistake.
      3. Assistance he provided to PetroChina, allowing it to raise capital in the United States and subsequently help fuel the humanitarian crisis directed by the Government of Sudan.
      4. Policies that he now considers would be prudent for financial institutions to adopt, so as to avoid the mistakes he facilitated during PetroChina’s IPO, and to avoid inadvertently connecting ordinary American investors to ongoing and future crimes against humanity and mass atrocities."
  • Click here for the press release

    “Mr. Hormats was instrumental in PetroChina acquiring the gloss of respectability that has led to PetroChina being widely held by US financial institutions.  These holdings are now of widespread concern in the financial industry, since Americans are overwhelmingly opposed to being financially connected to genocide, but are, in fact, connected to the genocide in Darfur through the investments made by mutual fund and other portfolio managers on their behalf. Mr. Hormats must address this problem during his confirmation hearing.”
    -     Eric Cohen, Chairperson, Investors Against Genocide.

    "Hopefully, Mr. Hormats’ answers will explain the mistaken assurances he provided at the time of PetroChina’s IPO.  His willingness to address these issues should be a significant factor in the Committee’s consideration of his nomination."
    - Sam Bell, Executive Director, Genocide Intervention Network