Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP
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Contents 3-8 Messages 9-15 Board of Advisors Mission and Objectives Highlights from; 2nd Anniversary Reception and Dinner Rt Hon David Cameron MP Community Achievement Awards 2013 Winners Rt Hon Nick Clegg MP 3rd Anniversary Rt Hon William Hague MP Community Achievement Awards 2014 Rt Hon Douglas Alexander MP Message from; Director’s Message Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP 32-35 Joint Forums 2013-2014 Boris Johnson (Mayor of London) The Centre for Turkey Studies, the London Kurdish Institute and SOAS Kurdish Society Joint Forum Turkey’s Kurdish Question: Past, Present and Future 16-31 Westminster Debates 2013-2014 The Centre for Turkey Studies and SOAS Kurdish Society Destruction of the Near East and the Kurdistan Issue Joint Forum The Gezi Spirit and Its Impacts: Recent Developments in Turkey 2013 Analysis of Democracy and Politics in Turkey The Centre for Turkey Studies and Refugee Workers Turkey at a Tipping Point Cultural Association (RWCA) Joint Forum Kurdish Issue in Turkey and Problems of Democratic Participation Ergenekon and the Other Side of the Story Centre for Turkey Studies and Ertegun House (University Turkey’s Democratisation and Reform Package and of Oxford) Joint Forum Freedom of Expression in Turkey Peaceful Solution to the Kurdish Question during the EU Accession Progress The Impacts of Democratisation and 2012-2013 Joint Forums Reform Package in Turkey The Peace Process in Turkey: What Future for a Plural Society in Turkey 36-37 CEFTUS Insights Turkey: Everything You Don’t Want to Know! CEFTUS Insights Freedom of Expression in Turkey during the EU Accession CEFTUS Insights Interview with Dr Jenny White Progress CEFTUS Insights Interview with Altan Tan, Peace and London’s Kurdish and Turkish Communities: How Do Democracy Party (BDP) MP They Relate to Britain and to Turkey? CEFTUS Insights Interview with Abdurrahman Kurt, Foreign Policy of Turkey during the EU Accession former AKP MP for Diyarbakir Government, Media, Conflict and Peace: Limits to Freedom of Expression in Turkey Religion, Society and Politics in a Changing Turkey and Community Events the Hate Crime Legislation Campaign in Turkey 38 2012-2013 Westminster Debates 2011-2012 Westminster Debates 39 CEFTUS 2013-2014 Team 2 Centre for Turkey Studies Centre for Turkey Studies Board of Advisors Baroness Meral Jonathan Fryer Diana Johnson Andrew Slaughter Councillor Hussein Ece OBE MP MP Dogan Delman Siddik Bakir Lord Sheikh Jean Lambert Dr Tunc Aybak Keith Vaz MP MEP Nick de Bois MP Dr Caroline Tee Eric Joyce MP Dr Pelin Bill Park Kadercan Cllr Ertan Hurer Baroness Sarah Mustafa Topkaya Ludford MEP Centre for Turkey Studies 3 “As Britain aims to strengthen its links with Turkey, and help the country work towards EU accession, the role of the Centre for Turkey Studies remains as important as ever.” Rt Hon David Cameron Prime Minister and Leader of the Conservative Party “There is a highly entrepreneurial Turkish community here in London with many thriving businesses that continue to grow and reinvest. CEFTUS does an important job of promoting this contribution and tonight sees us celebrate this, displaying just how CEFTUS are able to bring together people from a variety of backgrounds who share an interest in Turkey’s development and its relationship with the UK.” Rt Hon Nick Clegg MP Deputy Prime Minister and Leader of the Liberal Democrats Party “I am fully committed to continuing to strengthen the bonds between our two nations and I acknowledge the work the Centre for Turkey Studies does in helping to support this.” Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP Leader of the Labour Party 4 Centre for Turkey Studies “In providing a forum for debating foreign affairs, economic issues, and social developments in Turkey and the region, the Centre for Turkey Studies is helping to strengthen the myriad ties between Britain and Turkey at a governmental, commercial, cultural, and educational level.” Rt Hon William Hague MP Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Our team will continue to work, as Labour did in government, to support Turkey’s accession to the EU. Through the work of our Westminster and Brussels’ based team, in partnership with Labour Friends of Turkey, we will continue to push for progress on this front and advance the case for Turkey’s EU membership, as well as advancing a deeper understanding of Turkey and its relationship with the UK. The Centre for Turkey Studies will provide a very welcome contribution to this ongoing debate.” Rt Hon Douglas Alexander MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs “There is little doubt that since its establishment, CEFTUS has enabled Londoners to discuss a range of subjects linked to Turkey and the UK via its forums, round tables and panel. I welcome all such conversations as they enable us explore an increasingly important relationship.” Boris Johnson Mayor of London Centre for Turkey Studies 5 I am delighted to present to you, on behalf of the volunteers of the Centre for Turkey Studies (CEFTUS), our 3rd Annual report of activities. The CEFTUS team, over the last three years, worked incredibly hard to engage with institutions and other stakeholders to organise debates, conferences and networking events to build bridges between Turkey and the UK. The CEFTUS, in providing a forum for debating foreign affairs, economic issues and social developments in Turkey and the region, is helping to strengthen the important ties between Turkey and the UK at a governmental, commercial, cultural and educational level. Kurdish, Turkish and Turkish Cypriot communities with over 400,000 of their population, are increasingly becoming part of the mainstream society through their social, cultural and economical contributions to the life in the UK. The Kurdish, Turkish and Turkish Cypriot communities are highly entrepreneurial in the UK, with thriving businesses that continue to grow and re invest in the UK. Ibrahim Dogus The key challenge to the work of the CEFTUS Founder and Director, has been the issue of raising funds for its projects Centre for Turkey Studies and that still remains to be a challenge. The centre’s work is funded via fundraising dinners and donations from individual members living and working in the UK. I therefore urge you to consider making a donation tonight or in the near future to help us continue our work. A donation can be made online via www.ceftus.org . Finally, I would like to thank you all for your The Kurdish, Turkish and continuous support. Turkish Cypriot communities are highly entrepreneurial in the UK, with thriving Ibrahim Dogus businesses that continue to Founder and Director grow and re invest in the UK. Centre for Turkey Studies (CEFTUS) 6 Centre for Turkey Studies I want to congratulate the Centre for Turkey Studies and Development on your third anniversary. I know that over the last three years, Ibrahim and his team worked incredibly hard to raise the profile of the Centre and strengthen links between Britain and Turkey, through the “Westminster Debates” and “ CEFTUS Insights” events. These events are particularly valuable now, as Turkey shows increasing economic and diplomatic confidence and as we have vibrant Turkish and Kurdish communities here Britain. When Labour was in government we worked to retain good relationships between Britain and Turkey and I am fully committed to continuing to Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP strengthen the bonds between our two nations. I Leader of the Labour Party acknowledge the important work the Centre does in helping to support this. I wish the Centre for Turkey Studies and Development all the best for another successful year and I wish you all an enjoyable evening. These events are particularly valuable now, as Turkey shows increasing economic and diplomatic confidence and as we have vibrant Turkish and Kurdish communities here Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP Britain. Leader of the Labour Party Centre for Turkey Studies 7 I would like to salute the efforts of those responsible for the efforts of the Centre for Turkey Studies. This year marks the third anniversary of this excellent organisation which works to promote opinions and debates focusing on relationships between Turkey and Britain. London is home to a sizeable Turkish heritage community, and Turkish, Kurdish and Turkish Cypriot Londoners have over the years contributed so much to the capital’s economic, social and cultural success. I welcome the fact that CEFTUS is a forum which explores how we can develop links between the UK (London) and Turkey. Boris Johnson I would like to wish the CEFTUS every success over the coming years. Mayor of London Yours sincerely This year marks the third anniversary of this excellent organisation which works to promote opinions and debates focusing on relationships between Turkey Boris Johson and Britain. Mayor of London 8 Centre for Turkey Studies Mission The Centre for Turkey Studies relations, foreign affairs, economic at UK Parliament, think tanks, (CEFTUS) is an independent issues and social developments in academic institutions and locations and non-partisan organisation Turkey and the region. The centre in the City of London. inaugurated in April 2011 with the hosts experts, leading politicians, support of Deputy Prime Minister academics and opinion-formers from It also conducts case studies at Nick Clegg in London. Britain, Turkey and beyond. the requests of think tanks, public institutions and the private sector CEFTUS provides an open forum As a policy forum, CEFTUS interested in the economic, political promoting expert opinions and organises monthly speaker