New UK-Turkey forum to open up fresh venue for relations

Turkish Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu is to participate in a first gathering of a British and Turkish forum in Oxfordshire, where participants from the UK and Turkey are going to discuss the global economy, the Middle East and European Union–Turkey relations. Titled "British-Turkish Tatlıdil [Turkish for sweet talk]," the forum is set to convene for the first time on Oct. 7 at Ditchley Park in Oxfordshire, pursuant to its establishment during an official visit of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to the UK back in March, a statement released by the Turkish Foreign Ministry announced yesterday. Davutoglu is among the participants of the meeting, which will bring together "political personalities as well as representatives of business, media, art and academic circles" on a yearly basis. The forum will be hosted alternately by Turkey and the UK. The first meeting today is expected to be co-chaired by former foreign ministers of both countries, Yasar Yakis from the Turkish ministry and Jack Straw from its counterpart in the UK. The agenda of the newly established forum includes global current events, the developments in the Middle East, Turkey's process of accession to the EU, energy security, migration, and security and defense policies in the 21st century, the announcement stated. The ministry noted that the forum would "contribute in further strengthening the impetus obtained in our bilateral relations with the UK in the political, economic, cultural and social fields."