The Tatlidil Forum was established in March 2011 during the Turkish PM’s official visit to London. Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and British Prime Minister David Cameron announced the foundation of the new Forum with the objective of facilitating and strengthen relations between the Republic of Turkey and the United Kingdom at the level of government, diplomacy, business, academia and media. It does this principally by holding an annual two day conference situated alternatively in Turkey and Britain. Since its inauguration the Tatlidil Forum has been variously attended by the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Turkish Ministers, British Secretaries of State and Ministers.
The Forum is led by four co-chairs, representing the political and business sectors. These are, from the political side, Reha Denemeç, Senior Advisor to the President of the Republic of Turkey and the Rt. Hon Jack Straw, politician and former UK Foreign Secretary and representing the business sector, Sir Julian Horn-Smith and Bülent Göktuna.
A total of six Forums have now been held, the last Forum in March 2017 was held in Antalya, Turkey.
1. October 7-9, 2011 – Oxford, England
2. October 11-13, 2012 – İstanbul, Turkey
3. November 1-3, 2013 – Edinburg, Scotland
4. November 28-30, 2014 – İstanbul, Turkey
5. March 11-13, 2016 – Bath, England
6. March 24-26, 2017 – Antalya, Turkey