QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER October 2025
Dear friends and supporters,
Welcome to the Conservative Friends of Armenia’s inaugural newsletter. This will be a quarterly publication with the goal of updating and informing supporters about the work we are doing.
Admittedly, since our initial meeting where we laid the groundwork for the team currently in place we have been outwardly quiet. However, behind the scenes we have been working to get our ducks in order, laying strong administrative and financial foundations will determine whether this group becomes a sustainable, effective voice or another flash in the pan!
Alongside the various meetings and working lunches with MPs over the course of the past six months our team was in Manchester attending the Conservative Party Conference. Over the course of two intense days we engaged MPs including shadow ministers and listened to their thoughts on foreign policy and in particular Britain's position in the South Caucuses. The events of the past few years in our ancestral homeland have left the Diaspora deeply wounded and despondent. Armenia not only lost the war on the battlefield but lost the war of words.
Having gone to conference with muted expectations, we felt energised by expressions of support and affinity towards Armenia and Armenians. The history of Armenians in the UK is rooted in stories of hard work, resilience, community, faith and service – values we share with the Conservative Party.
We look forward to harnessing the energy and building on the foundations and relationships established at conference. In January we will officially launch our group in parliament and we look forward to having our friends and supporters alongside us as we embark on this journey.
Now that the more cumbersome tasks outlined above have been completed we can focus on the work at hand.
The team in place at CFOA brings different perspectives and skill-sets and are united in our shared values and commitment to championing the voice of British Armenians to parliamentarians and decision-makers within the Conservative Party.
We thank you for your trust and support and we look forward to developing a partnership that you can all be proud of.
Best,
Anoushka Kurkjian
CFoA Committee Chair
Updates
The Committee's recent period of limited communication has been a strategic phase focused on strengthening our organisational foundation. During this time, we've been diligently working behind the scenes to ensure a robust and effective structure for our future growth.
Our efforts have included in-depth consultations with our sponsor and their team to align our strategy with the Conservative Party's needs, developing our online presence through a new website, establishing financial infrastructure, and planning key events.
These include our inaugural conference participation and an exciting launch event scheduled for January 2026. As we continue to develop and expand, we look forward to sharing quarterly updates on our progress and achievements with you.
Conservative Party Conference 2025
The committee's attendance at the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester proved to be a pivotal opportunity to deepen our understanding of party interests and expand our network of contacts.
Key sessions included insightful talks on Christianity's future in Israel, strategic lessons from the Ukraine war, and pressing global geopolitical challenges.
Notable speakers such as Major General Jonathan Shaw CB, Rt Hon Sir John Whittingdale OBE, and Dame Priti Patel offered valuable perspectives on these critical issues. The committee also participated in a reception for Conservative Friends of Overseas Territories, further broadening our connections.
These interactions facilitated the formation of important relationships with party members, media representatives, and various conservative organisations, laying a solid foundation for future collaborations and information exchange.
A particularly impactful moment was the testimony of Hannah, a Palestinian Christian living in Jerusalem, who provided a poignant firsthand account of regional challenges. Moreover, the conference underscored the party's commitment to addressing threats to the global order from countries like Russia, Iran, and China, with prominent figures offering crucial insights on these matters.
January Launch Event
In January, with the support of MP Andrew Rosindall, we will hold our official launch in Parliament.
This event will serve as a platform to formally introduce our group to key party members and parliamentarians, while clearly articulating our mission and objectives. It will also demonstrate our commitment to working within the party structure and highlight how our initiatives aim to contribute to the Conservative Party's broader goals and successes.
New Website & Email
We’ve launched a new website, which we will continue to populate with new developments.
We also have a new email address, which reaches the entire committee (committee@cfoarmenia.co.uk), along with a general one for the public (info@cfoarmenia.co.uk). Accordingly, please email us with any questions or comments via these links.
We value ideas from the community and would like to hear them.