Armenians get used whenever an election in USA or France takes place, says Turkish-Armenian lawyer

KASTAMONU (A.A) - A Turkish-Armenian and a lawyer registered with the Istanbul Bar Association, Kegam Karabetyan, said Saturday that "Armenians get used whenever an election in the United States or France takes place". In an exclusive interview with the AA, Karabetyan said that he was born in Hacibey village of the northern province of Kastamonu and had never experienced discrimination based on his ethnic identity in Turkey. We, as Turkish-Armenians, are proud to be Turks and live side by side with our Muslim brothers and sisters, Karabetyan noted. Reacting to the Armenian resolution adopted at the French Parliament on Thursday, Karabetyan said that the Armenians were always used whenever an election took place in the U.S. or France. As the Turkish-Armenians, we will continue to react to such resolutions. We have schools and churches open in Turkey. What is France trying to do when people from all communities live side by side in Turkey in peace and love, Karabetyan stressed. Many high level officials of the Ottoman state were of Armenian origin. Many Armenian soldiers and officers died while fighting on the side of the Ottomans against the enemy at the Battle of Gallipoli, Karabetyan said. Touching on the incidents of 1915, Karabetyan said that "in order to define the incidents as 'genocide', there must be an intention and an international court's decision on the matter". During 1915 and before, Armenians were not killed by the Ottoman state. During the ongoing war in Anatolia, certain gangs killed a number of Armenians where there was a lack of governance. At the same time, many ill individuals and children lost their lives due to war conditions. What happened in Anatolia in 1915 was definitely not a 'genocide', Karabetyan underlined. Armenians are the tools of certain countries in different parts of the world. We will never fall into the French trap. No one can hurt our unity and tranquility in Turkey, Karabetyan also said.