Minister Chris Alexander and Turkey

Armenia Turkey: In doing so, Kenney was siding with the Armenians at the start of a weekend when a pair of First World War 100th anniversary commemorations were taking place 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, according to Hamilton Spectator. Ottawa calls the tragedy a genocide, to the anger of Turkey. Kenney dramatically affirmed that controversial position — which Canada NATO ally Turkey vehemently opposes — to hundreds gathered on the east section of the Hill lawn, separated by barricades from hundreds of Turkish Canadian protesters gathered on the lawn west side. Kenney did not mention the Turks, nor did he visit the group of 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. Gen. Armenia and Turkey both invited Gov. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.