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30th September 2007
The Conservative Middle East Council and the Council for Arab-British Understanding hosted their joint annual reception at the Conservative Party Conference in Blackpool. 
The Palestinian Question Speakers: Rt. Hon. William Hague MP: Shadow Foreign Secretary Dr Mustafa Barghouthi: PLC Member, Palestinian National Initiative David Liddington MP: Shadow Spokesman for the Middle East Crispin Blunt MP: Chairman of CMEC, Co-chair of CAABU
CMEC and CAABU were delighted to host the Shadow Foreign Secretary, William Hague and Mustafa Barghouthi, Member of the Palestinian Legislative Council and former Presidential candidate, to address the subject of “The Palestinian Question”. Crispin Blunt MP chaired the event and David Lidington MP, Shadow Spokesman for the Middle East, joined the question and answer debate that followed the speeches. I wish all Conservatives who are interested in Middle Eastern Affairs a continued close scrutiny of these affairs. And I hope you will all help us in our understanding. We think it is the single most important area of our foreign policy work. [William Hague, 30th September 2007, CMEC-CAABU Fringe Event, Blackpool]
William Hague reminded us of the importance of the Middle East to the Conservative Party. He talked of his instructions to his fellow colleagues in the Shadow Cabinet regarding the need to understand the history, politics and current situation of the Middle East more than we understand any other part of the world. He reiterated the importance of a group like the Conservative Middle East Council. With regards to ‘The Palestinian Question’, he said; We believe in a two-state solution. We want to see a viable and secure Palestinian state existing alongside a viable and secure Israel. We cannot bring that about as a British nation or government but we can encourage that and encourage the work of the former Prime Minister Tony Blair is now doing among Palestinians and we hope that the forthcoming international conference will help to revive the Middle East peace process. We really want to see the people of that region living in peace and prosperity together. We cannot define the way in which they do so, though we do have to understand all the immense difficulties on both sides, on all sides, of that question. We are distressed; I think it is fair to say, by some of the deep divisions recently among Palestinians. And we hope that those divisions can be healed so that a two state solution can actually be brought about. And in the mean time we are listening and learning… [30th September 2007, CMEC-CAABU Fringe Event, Blackpool]
The evening was attended by the Hon. President of CMEC, the Hon. Nicholas Soames MP and by keen CMEC supporters such as Brooks Newmark MP, Richard Spring MP, Tobias Ellwood MP and James Gray MP. With over 200 guests including the Iraqi Ambassador, Dr Salah al Shaikhly, and Wafic Moustafa, Chairman of the Conservative Arab Network (CAN) the evening was a great success. As the night progressed the audience and guests were invited to dine on a Lebanese buffet brought all the way from Al-Jabal Bakeries in London. To see other key speeches at the Conservative Party Conference please click here.
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CMEC Events 
