A Story - Turkey recognizes the Genocide‏

TURKEY RECOGNIZES THE GENOCIDE
By AVEDIS KEVORKIAN

In order to be accepted into the European Union, Turkey finally realized that it had no choice

but to stop denying the historical fact of the Armenian Genocide. In its statement, it said: "Yes,

in 1915, the Ottoman Empire did commit the state-conceived, state-planned, and state-executed

genocide of its Armenians. Therefore, although the Republic of Turkey had nothing to do with it,

we will transfer a part of eastern Turkey to the Republic of Armenia."

The world was astounded.

Washington was caught flat-footed, but scraped together a statement in which it praised Turkey.

London issued a statement praising Turkey.

The State of Israel went further and said that it was about time that Turkey admitted the actions

of the Ottomans had made the template for future genocides.

The Armenians were elated beyond description when they learned how much of Turkey was

involved. Of course, many of the Turks living in the land to be transferred, decided to leave, but

about twenty-three million Turks stayed on, saying that as far as they were concerned it was their

home.

The transfer took place, and suddenly Armenia was more than three times as large and had a

population almost six times as great. About two-million Armenians from the Diaspora came, l

ooked around, and about half decided that they didn't want to live in such a backward area, but

about a million stayed on.

The Turkish flag came down; Mustapha Kemal's photos were removed; the schools began

teaching Armenian, and the resident Turks were given Armenian citizenship.

Armenians from the Republic came across the now-disappeared border to "look at Ararat from

the other side." Some stayed.

The government's crooks and thieves and thugs also came and, as expected, gobbled up the best

land and properties. They made plans to divide the profits from the Baku­Ceyhan oil pipeline.

About three years later, it was time to vote for the Armenian National Assembly. The (Armenian)

Armenians put up their hundreds of candidates affiliated with the usual score of parties. The Turkish

(Armenians) formed one party and put up one slate of candidates. Even the crooked (Armenian)

Armenian government could not alter the results which showed a huge number of Turkish (Armenian)

--about five times as many as Armenian (Armenian) --members of the Assembly, and the Assembly

elected a Turkish (Armenian) Speaker, and Turkish (Armenian) office holders were appointed.

The Republic of Armenia had a Turkish (Armenian)-run Assembly.

The following year, came the election of a president. The (Armenian) Armenians put up their usual

dozen candidates from about a score of political parties, and the Turkish (Armenians) put up a single

candidate. After the election, even the (Armenian) Armenians had to admit that the country had

elected a Turkish (Armenian) president.

He was inaugurated, and installed a cabinet full of Turkish (Armenian) ministers.

Thus, the Republic of Armenia had a Turkish (Armenian) President, a (Turkish) Armenian Prime

Minister, and a Turkish (Armenian) Assembly.

Shortly after, a Turkish (Armenian) member of the Assembly introduced a bill dissolving the Republic

of Armenia in order to have it absorbed into the Republic of Turkey. It was quickly seconded, and the

vote was about five to one in favor. The Turkish (Armenian) president signed the measure into law.

Ankara announced that the Armenians had finally come home. And Turkey's long-time objective had

been realized; there was no Armenia any longer.

Washington was caught flat-footed but issued a statement that the Armenians had done a wise thing.

London issued a statement that the Armenians had done a wise thing.

The State of Israel said that the Armenians had turned the last page of the last chapter of their history

and were back in the Turkish family.

The crooks and thieves and thugs who used to run Armenia were now listed as among the richest Turks.

At midnight of the following December 31, the Armenian Tri-color was brought down for the last time, and

the Crescent and Star raised over the Assembly building. The Republic of Armenia was no more. Photos

of Mustapha Kemal went up all over the former Armenia.

The Republic of Turkey had just expanded eastward to its "brother" Azerbaijan. Mount Ararat was back

in Turkey.

The singing and dancing, which had begun days before, became almost universal. The singing and dancing

went into the early days of January. The longer it lasted the louder it became.

Then, suddenly, it stopped. All was quiet.

As my eyes got used to the darkness, I realized that I was staring at the ceiling of my bedroom. I looked

around. I was in my bedroom.

It had been a dream.

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