Message from Ed Miliband

Message from the Rt. Hon. Ed Miliband MP, Leader of the Labour Party, to the Centre for Turkey Studies and Development.

I am delighted to congratulate the Centre for Turkey Studies and Development (CTSD) on its first anniversary and on the excellent work it does, as the first Turkey-focused policy forum bringing Turkish, Kurdish and Turkish Cypriot communities together here in London.

I am proud that Labour in Government was a strong supporter of Turkish accession to membership of the EU and we remain so today, a dedicated friend and trusted partner. The Labour Party has been proud to have a strong and active Labour Friends of Turkey Group which brings Turkish businesses, civil society groups, media, and families together with our elected councillors, MPs and MEPs to take the very best of what Turkish people have achieved living and working in the UK.

“I very much welcome this opportunity to express my support for the Centre for Turkey Studies and Development, to your efforts to promote debate and better understanding about Turkey here in Britain and to play your own part in strengthening the bonds between our peoples.”

Our Shadow Foreign Secretary Douglas Alexander, Shadow Europe Minister Emma Reynolds, European Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Richard Howitt MEP will continue to work tirelessly to press Turkey’s case in Westminster and Brussels.

I very much welcome this opportunity to express my support for the Centre for Turkey Studies and Development, to your efforts to promote debate and better understanding about Turkey here in Britain and to play your own part in strengthening the bonds between our peoples. I especially welcome the establishment of the CTSD Community Awards as an excellent vehicle to illustrate exactly what is special about the Turkish, Kurdish and Turkish Cypriot communities here in Britain.

Best wishes,

Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP
Leader of the Labour Party