Minister Chris Alexander and Armenians

Armenia: As he did so, hundreds of Turkish Canadian protesters were gathered just metres away on the lawn west side, separated from their Armenian rivals by temporary steel barricades and a few metres of broad Parliament walkway, according to The Waterloo Record. Kenney remarks comprised an explicit expression of support for the Armenians on the eve of a weekend featuring separate First World War 100th anniversary commemorations in Armenia and Turkey. "We are here today as proud Canadians because we believe in memory," Kenney said. "This is why we gather on this centenary of the first genocide of the 20th century, to call prayerfully to mind the souls of all of those whose lives were taken in a campaign of brutal violence." Also Friday, Immigration Minister Chris Alexander was in Armenia to lay a wreath at a commemoration of the 1915 massacre, in which 1.5 million Armenians were killed at the hands of Ottoman Turks. Kenney dramatically affirmed that controversial position — one vehemently opposed by Turkey, Canada NATO ally — to hundreds of Armenian Canadians gathered on the east section of the Hill lawn. Ottawa calls the tragedy a genocide, to the anger of Turkey. Armenia and Turkey both invited Gov. Kenney did not mention the Turks, nor did he visit the Turkish Canadians gathered on the other side of the lawn as he spoke, many of them brandishing signs that denounced the use of the term 'genocide.' As he spoke, junior foreign affairs minister Lynne Yelich was leading Canada delegation in Turkey, including veterans of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment, at ceremonies marking the centenary of the start of the Gallipoli campaign. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.