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The 60th Anniversary of the Liberation of KL Auschwitz-Birkenau 29 heads of state have confirmed their participation in the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the KL Auschwitz-Birkenau, on January 27th, 2005. Auschwitz-Birkenau is a place of genocide and a symbol of Nazi crimes, where at least 1.1 million Jews from all over Europe were murdered - a fifth of all the Holocaust victims – as well as over 200 thousand people of other nations: Poles, Gypsies, Russians and other prisoners, forced into the death camps and mostly exterminated. The anniversary of the liberation is a unique occasion for the victims and witnesses to remind the younger generations about the crimes to which racism, xenophobia and human rights abuses lead and about the genocide brought about by antisemitism. The main commemorating ceremony will take place in the grounds of the KL Auschwitz-Birkenau camp on the afternoon of January 27th (2:30-4:00). In the morning (9:00-12:00), the Juliusz Słowacki Theatre in Krakow will be the venue for the International Forum “Let My People Live!”, organised by the European Jewish Congress (EJC), the Polish Ministry of Culture and Yad Vashem under the patronage of the President of Poland Mr. Aleksander Kwaśniewski and under the auspices of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe Mr. Terry Davis. The Forum will be a meeting place for victims and witnesses, as well as for young people from all over the world. The Forum is intended as a reminder to the world of the genocidal crimes of Auschwitz and other death and concentration camps, so that today’s generation remembers lessons learnt. Participating in the Forum will be survivors and liberators of the KL Auschwitz-Birkenau camp. The Forum will inaugurate the “European Educational Program on Holocaust Lessons for Teachers” project, prepared by the EJC, the Polish Ministry of Culture and Yad Vashem, while young people will hand in their global students declaration: “Facing the Past – Challenging the Future” message to the diplomatic corps. During the Forum, Red Army soldiers, the liberators of the camp, will be decorated with medals by the President of Poland, Mr. Aleksander Kwaśniewski. Speeches will also be given by the President of Israel, Mr. Moshe Kacav, the President of Russia, Mr. Vladimir Putin, the President of Germany, Mr. Horst Koehler and the President of Latvia, Ms. Vaira Vike-Freiberga. In addition, the audience will be addressed by Mr. Ellie Wiesel, a former Auschwitz prisoner and Nobel Prize winner, by Mr. Edgar M. Bronfman, the President of the World Jewish Congress, and by Mr. Moshe Kantor, Chairman of the European Jewish Congress Board of Governors. In the course of the afternoon’s ceremonies, ecumenical prayers will be held on the grounds of the camps, while the cantor Joseph Malovany will sing the Kadish, a jewish memorial prayer. Cardinal Jean-Marie Lustiger will read a message from the Holy Father John Paul II, while former prisoners and the presidents of Poland, Israel and Russia, will also give speeches. Before the official ceremonies on the KL Auschwitz-Birkenau grounds, with the participation of the President of France, Mr. Jacques Chirac, a pavillion dedicated to the French prisoners of Auschwitz will be opened, while HRH Edward, the Earl of Wessex will unveil a tablet commemorating the British POWs held in the Auschwitz III camp. Polish Television will broadcast live coverage of the ceremonies, and the signal will be made accessible to other TV stations. |