Conservative Friends of Turkey (CFT) is a group associated with the British Conservative Party

Conservative Party (UK)

The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...

. Its fundamental objective is given as promoting links between Turkey

Turkey

Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...

 and the Conservative Party at all levels, by working with local and national party organisations, business groups and academia. Other aims include fostering enhanced bilateral trade relationships and increasing awareness of the Conservative Party within the Turkish speaking communities in the UK. The group also lobbies in favour of Turkish membership

Accession of Turkey to the European Union

Turkey's application to accede to the European Union was made on 14 April 1987. Turkey has been an associate member of the European Union and its predecessors since 1963...

 of the EU

European Union

The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...

 and highlights Turkey’s importance as an ally of the UK. CFT lists the following activities to achieve these aims: by providing information on Turkey through regular briefings and newsletters; by organising meetings and events in Britain, Turkey and Belgium; and by arranging British parliamentary delegations to Turkey http://www.cfot.org.uk/objectives.html.

Membership

CFT counts 21 MPs, 4 peers and 2 MEPs among its founders http://www.cfot.org.uk/founders.html.

Activities

Recent CFT activities include: the official launch with Foreign Secretary Rt Hon William Hague MP

William Hague

William Jefferson Hague is the British Foreign Secretary and First Secretary of State. He served as Leader of the Conservative Party from June 1997 to September 2001...

 , launch of the Brussels branch with Daniel Hannan MEP

Daniel Hannan

Daniel John Hannan is a British journalist, author and politician who is currently a Member of the European Parliament, representing South East England for the Conservative Party and the European Conservatives and Reformists political group...

 and Geoffrey Van Orden OBE MEP

Geoffrey van Orden

Geoffrey Charles Van Orden MBE is a British politician and former soldier. He is currently Member of the European Parliament for the East of England region for the Conservative Party. He was first elected to the European Parliament in 1999....

, a joint dinner with Cities of London and Westminster Conservative Association and a joint reception with Westminster North Conservative Association hosting Defence Secretary Rt Hon Dr Liam Fox MP

Liam Fox

Liam Fox MP is a British Conservative politician, Member of Parliament for North Somerset, and former Secretary of State for Defence....

.

Newsletter

CFT started publishing a monthly newsletter in early 2009, an archive of past newsletters can be found on the official website http://www.cfot.org.uk/newsletter.html.

External links

• Conservative Friends of Turkey -- Official site