A second day of services is also taking place in Australia, Turkey and New Zealand to mark the centenary.

California has one of the largest Armenian diaspora communities in the world.

Nearly one million soldiers fought in the Gallipoli Campaign, half of them Ottoman Turks defending the peninsual, and the other half mainly from the British Empire. Both sides suffered heavy losses amounting to tens of thousands.

The Turkish President also paid respect to the half a million people from all nations who were killed or wounded in Gallipoli.

President Putin of Russia and president Hollande of France where among thousands of guests at the ceremony.

Turkey says that in hosting world leaders, including those of its former enemies, it is sending a message of peace. and reconciliation.

The president said "A full, frank, and just acknowledgement of the facts is in all our interests."

"We are ready to embark upon a constructive dialogue with Turkey in case it faces its own history, heeds the calls of the international community, and guides itself by the vision of creating a peaceful future for the Armenian and Turkish peoples".

Archbishop Aram Ateşyan, patriarch of the Armenian Orthodox Church in Istanbul, expressed his pleasure at Davutoğlu's statements and participation of a government minister to the memorial service that meant "our pain is common."

The meeting on Thursday was also addressed by the Turkish president,Recip Tayip Erdogan and Prime Minister, Ahmit Davitoglu.