CEFTUS celebrates 15 years of strengthening UK–Türkiye dialogue

24 June 2026

CEFTUS celebrates 15 years of strengthening UK–Türkiye dialogue at landmark gala dinner in London

The Centre for Turkey Studies (CEFTUS) celebrated its 15th Annual Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony on Sunday evening at the prestigious London Marriott Grosvenor Square Hotel, bringing together hundreds of distinguished guests from across the United Kingdom to mark a significant milestone in the organisation’s history.

The event attracted a diverse audience including Members of Parliament, Members of the House of Lords, ambassadors, mayors, councillors, academics, journalists, business leaders, community representatives and prominent figures from the Turkish, Kurdish and Turkish Cypriot communities.

Founded in 2011 by Ibrahim Dogus, CEFTUS has established itself as one of the UK’s leading cross-party platforms dedicated to promoting dialogue, understanding and cooperation between the United Kingdom and Türkiye. Over the past fifteen years, the organisation has hosted hundreds of events, conferences, parliamentary briefings, international delegations and policy discussions, engaging senior politicians, diplomats, academics and civil society leaders from both countries.

Addressing guests during the gala dinner, CEFTUS Founder and Director Ibrahim Dogus reflected on the organisation’s achievements over the past decade and a half.

Speaking to the audience, Dogus said:

“When we launched CEFTUS fifteen years ago, we had a simple but ambitious vision: to create a platform that would bring together policymakers, academics, business leaders, diplomats and communities to strengthen understanding, dialogue and cooperation between the United Kingdom and Türkiye. Today, we are proud to have played a meaningful role in building bridges between Turkish, Kurdish and Turkish Cypriot communities, while also strengthening engagement between the UK and Turkish parliaments, media, academia and civil society. Our commitment remains as strong as ever, and we look forward to continuing this important work for the next fifteen years and beyond.”

Throughout its history, CEFTUS has facilitated constructive engagement on a wide range of political, economic, social and cultural issues, providing a trusted forum for discussion and helping to foster stronger relationships between communities and institutions in both countries.

As part of the celebrations, CEFTUS presented its Turkish, Kurdish and Turkish Cypriot Community Achievement Awards, recognising individuals who have made exceptional contributions to public life, business, academia, culture, community service and charitable work. The awards highlighted the significant contribution that members of these communities continue to make to British society and the wider economy.

The evening also provided an opportunity for guests to reflect on the achievements of the past fifteen years while looking ahead to future opportunities for collaboration and engagement between the United Kingdom and Türkiye.

As CEFTUS enters its next chapter, the organisation reaffirmed its commitment to promoting dialogue, strengthening democratic engagement, encouraging informed debate and supporting closer relations between communities, policymakers and institutions in both countries.