Sir Graham Watson: Patriot is a man who loves his country, a nationalist – a man who hates his neighbour

MRF/Renew Europe MEP Ilhan Kyuchyuk hosted a forum on “Building a Liberal Europe: The ALDE Project”, which featured a presentation of the book by Sir Graham Watson, Member of the EP (1994-2014) and President of the ALDE Party (2011-2015). The Chairman of MRF, Mustafa Karadayi, H.M. King Simeon II, Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria (2001-2005), Daniel Kaddik, Executive Director of the European Liberal Forum, and Katalin Cseh, Member of the European Parliament and Vice-Chair of the Renew Europe Group in the EP  also took part in the event.

According to Ilhan Kyuchyuk, Sir Watson’s book presents a retrospective of the main achievements of the European Union, while at the same time picturing the emotions and events of a period in which the author played a major political role.

“We organized this event led by the conviction that today, Europe needs a new liberal concept for its development. Sir Watson’s book reminds us that none of the challenges that we face today are unique in their nature. Recession, unemployment, neighbourhood wars, refugee crisis, rapidly changing geopolitical situation, climate change. This is precisely the setting in which Sir Graham Watson builds the ALDE project, which then became a decisive factor in European politics” Kyuchyuk stated in his welcome address.

“Valery Simeonov is a pitiful man. We must never be led astray by this false discussion on patriotism. A patriot is a man who loves his country, a nationalist – a man who hates his neighbour. Now, more than ever, we need to show that this Union of 28 states, soon 27, is working for the benefit of the people. And the simple reason is that we live in an age where identity is what defines us. We all suffer from an identity crisis – from Ireland to Bulgaria”, said Graham Watson while presenting his book.

“While reading Sir Graham’s book, the memories of the creation and transition to democracy in Bulgaria are brought back to me. Despite the attempt to diminish the role of MRF in this process, it is an indisputable fact. It is true that victors write history – some facts are silenced, others changed, but they remain in the memory of political experience. The fight against totalitarianism and communism was based on the deprivation of human identity, and the organized resistance of MRF was one of the most important elements for achieving democracy”, MRF President Mustafa Karadayi pointed out in his speech.

H.M. Simeon II: “As a person who spent many years in exile, the topic of refugees is particularly close to my heart, and I regret that the EU lacked the courage, desire and conviction to stand up for those people facing severe difficulties and obstacles. I am however glad to see the liberal idea coming back after many people have passed to the side of radicalism, because in such difficult times for us there is no plan B outside the EU.”