On July 13, 2019, dignitaries from dozens of countries across the world attended the main event of the Free Iran 2019 international conference. The conference was part of the five-day Free Iran 2019 series of conferences at the main headquarters of the People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) in Ashraf 3, Albania. Several dignitaries, political and human rights activists delivered speeches, issuing remarks about the struggles of the Iranian people and their resistance movement for freedom in their country.
The following are key remarks by Chairman of the Albanian Republican Party and former Defense Minister of Albania Fatmir Mediu at the Ashraf 3 conference.
Fatmir Mediu:
Thank you very much. Dear Madame Maryam Rajavi, dear Ashrafis, dear friends from around the world, welcome to Albania and welcome to the beginning of free Iran here in Ashraf 3.
I want to thank the MEK, the NCRI, for bringing here in Albania friends from around the world. This is a special gift for Albanians. Yesterday and today we have heard from Mayor [Rudy] Giuliani, Senator [Joseph] Lieberman, Michèle Alliot-Marie, many dignitaries talking about what to do more and what is the next step. And that is what we have to think. But I think we all agree on one thing: the time for a change in Iran is long overdue. The American government has stood up against Iran’s regime and we all hope and wish that also the European Union and European countries all stand together as they stand for democratic values, human rights, liberty, and freedom. They should stand for liberty and freedom of people of Iran as God-given rights.
Albanian MP Fatmir Mediu
“Madam @Maryam_Rajavi, your ten-point plan is for sure the future of Iran. Despite our political differences in Albania, we are united in your cause & support you for a free Iran.”#FreeIran#WeSupportMEK#IStandWithMaryamRajavi pic.twitter.com/17d06IutQp— People’s Mojahedin Organization of Iran (PMOI/MEK) (@Mojahedineng) July 13, 2019
Last year, the Albanian government expelled the Iranian ambassador and deputy ambassador, and some were arrested because they planned a terrorist attack against the people of Ashraf 3 [MEK complex in Albania] when Mayor Giuliani and we were gathered together to speak about the future of Iran. They will not stop doing whatever they can to create problems and issues for the people here. They’ll do it through the media and actions. However, we will stand together and stop them. We should call the terrorists and state sponsors of terrorism with a name that they deserve.
Madame Rajavi, your ten-point plan is for sure the way for a free Iran. At the same time it’s an aspiration for all the people that do believe in God-given rights, in freedom and liberty and pursuit of happiness. Here in Albania, we have our political differences as Mr. [Pandeli] Majko mentioned. We have our daily quarrel in politics. We have our political fights. But we are united in your cause in supporting you for a free Iran.
Let me end by saying, we would rather be remembered as people that fought for the freedom of our people, the freedom and liberty of the Iranian people, and together with you rather than as people that merely witnessed oppression, killings, terrorism, and did nothing. We don’t want to be the observers of history, but making history. God bless you all. Thank you very much.
