Poland's Defence Minister Mariusz Błaszczak stated on Friday that the Polish Army will be represented at the Westerplatte peninsula (northern Poland) when the anniversary of the start of World War II is honoured on September 1.
Westerplatte, just outside the Baltic coastal city of Gdańsk, is the location of Germany's September 1 1939 invasion of Poland.
Błaszczak told reporters that Westerplatte symbolises "the prowess of the Polish soldier" and so it was important for him to make sure the Polish army will be present at the commemorative ceremony.
"We will see to it that the ceremony at Westerplatte on September 1 includes the full military ritual," the defence minister said, "so that, for example, an officer of the Polish Army reads out the Memory Roll Call."
Asked by journalists if the officer could perform this role alongside a representative of the boy scouts, Błaszczak replied that while he has respect for Poland's boy scouts, "the military ritual is clear" and a Polish Army officer delivers the roll call.
Last Thursday, the defence minister announced that on the decision of Gdańsk Mayor Paweł Adamowicz, the armed forces would not be invited to take part in ceremonies at Westerplatte on September 1. At the same time, he requested Adamowicz to change his decision, emphasising that he could not imagine the armed forces not being present at Westerplatte on September 1.
In a letter inviting Minister Błaszczak to the event at Westerplatte, Mayor Adamowicz wrote: "It is important to us to consider the presence of the army in the scenario of the anniversary commemorations."
At the time, the defence minister gave his assurance that the Polish Army will be involved in preparations for anniversary ceremonies of the outbreak of WWII in Gdańsk. "I will not allow a ceremony at this specific place (Westerplatte) to be held without a full military ceremony," Błaszczak underscored.
Autor: gf / Źródło: TVN24 International, PAP