LI President Hakima el Haite has congratulated 2,000 guests marking The Movement for Rights and Freedoms (MRF, LI full member) 30th anniversary on 4th January, remarking that the party has ensured Bulgaria is an integral part of the European Union and of the global liberal family.
Liberal International President Hakima El Haité has applauded MRF’s three-decade anniversary via video message: “The MRF marks 30 years of fighting for freedom, human rights, the rule of law and democracy. It marks 30 years that changed the appearance of Bulgaria. Today, Bulgaria is an integral part of the European Union. Today, you can be proud of the confidence of all Europeans, but also of the Liberal International, which will hold its 63rd congress in June in Sofia.”
“For 30 years the MRF has grown to become a mature political entity with an enviable presence in the political life of the country. To date, the party turned to be a balancing force and a guarantor to the peaceful transition in Bulgaria. For me the MRF is the choice of destiny – and it is a destiny that I do not regret choosing”, emphasised party founder and honorary president Dr. Ahmed Dogan.
MRF Party President – Mustafa Karadayi recalled the evolution of events that led to founding of the party on 04 January 1990, and urged party members to continue demonstrating strength and decisiveness in the fight for the prosperity of Bulgaria and the EU. “The MRF, already from the moment it was created, conducts a consistent policy and bears its responsibility for ensuring peace and strengthening the common European future of Bulgaria and the Balkan region. We are firm and unwavering in following our course – 30 years on, we are standing for the rights and freedoms of every Bulgarian citizen, the dignity of every human being, defending democracy and stability in the country, and securing cleaner food, water and energy. Despite the challenges, we will follow our mission responsibly and rely on our strongholds – our biography, our togetherness and our values.” President Karadayi said at his opening speech.
MRF Member of the European Parliament, Ilhan Kyuchyuk, who is also ALDE Party Vice-president remarked: “Our party has turned from a defender of the rights of the Bulgarian Muslims to an advocate of human rights and liberties universally. For us “rights and freedoms” is not a trademark or an electoral slogan, but a founding principle, guiding our work through all these years.
Today’s celebration is a good occasion for reflection and a look back to history as it happened – from the peaceful democratic transition to fighting for the strategic cause to make Bulgaria part of NATO and the EU. Our contribution is also our responsibility – we would continue this commitment to our values, and I am proud that 30 years later we have also all our partners at the Liberal network that we can rely on as well.”
The party was created from the aftermath of the painful events, surrounding the so-called “Revival process” when under an attempt for forceful assimilation, thousands of Bulgarian Muslims had their birth names forcibly changed by the Communist authorities. Despite the tension caused by this human rights violation, thanks to the unique ethnic model, engineered by MRF’s Honorary Chair – Dr. Ahmed Dogan, Bulgaria was able to perform a peaceful transition from totalitarianism to democracy without falling back to revanchism and further violence.
