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1st July 2009
Shadow Foreign Secretary, The Rt Hon William Hague MP, addresses guests at CMEC’s 2nd Annual Gala Dinner 
 This year the Conservative Middle East Council hosted its 2nd Annual Gala Dinner at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park. The event was attended by senior business leaders and diplomats, Conservative MPs, Lords and CMEC supporters from the British Arab and British Iranian communities in London. Guests were greeted by a traditional Arabic oud player and percussionist as they entered a champagne reception in the Carlyle Room before being called for dinner in the Hotel’s Ballroom. CMEC Chairman, Hugo Swire MP, welcomed the guests and thanked those in attendance before he introduced a video link from the Leader of HM Opposition, The Rt Hon David Cameron MP, who spoke of his optimism at Obama’s fresh approach to the Middle East region. President Obama's speech in Cairo, I thought was excellent, it showed a great depth of understanding about Islam, about the Muslim world and about the importance of getting peace in the Middle East. So these are important times. We want your help to help us prepare for Government. The Leader of HM Opposition, The Rt Hon David Cameron MP, 1st July 2009 Following a Middle Eastern inspired dinner the keynote speaker, The Rt Hon William Hague MP, Shadow Foreign Secretary, addressed the assembled guests to present a future Conservative approach on the Middle East. Your region is crucial for the stability and the prosperity of the rest of the world. It is therefore imperative that we work together, that we develop binding relationships, a sense of genuine partnership, and a distinctive British approach to the region. These will be the attributes of our approach to the Middle East, and I am delighted that we have been assisted in that work by CMEC and we look forward to working together in Government in the years to come. The Shadow Foreign Secretary, The Rt Hon William Hague MP, 1st July 2009 
If you would like to read the full speech, please click here. Guests included prominent members of the Shadow Cabinet such as Dr Liam Fox MP, Shadow Defence Minister, and Alan Duncan MP, Shadow Leader of the House of Commons, foreign dignitaries including the Kuwaiti, Bahraini and Egyptian Ambassadors and senior representatives from the business and finance worlds. To view pictures from the evening, please click here.
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2nd Gala Dinner
