At the head of such important organisation as the International Auschwitz Council should stand a person who avoids controversial public comments, and is rather moderate when it comes to voicing quite radical opinions on political issues", said Jarosław Gowin in "Piaskiem po oczach". The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Science and Higher Education commented on the press revelations that the prime minister is planning to recall the current head of the Council, Professor Barbara Engelking.
Deputy prime minister stressed, however, that "no decision has yet been made" regarding replacing Professor Barbara Engelking as the Chairperson of the International Auschwitz Council. "The Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland has full autonomy regarding this decision" he said.
With these words he commented on the article published in "Gazeta Wyborcza" which has written that prime minister Morawiecki plans not to prolong the tenure of Professor Barbara Engelking because she is a co-author of the book "Beyond is the Night - the Fate of Jews in Selected Local Government Districts in Occupied Poland".
"Plenty renowned researchers of the Holocaust"
Jarosław Gowin said in "Piaskiem po oczach" that „in Poland, there are plenty renowned researchers of the Holocaust”. Asked about anyone with a similar authority to Professor Engelking, he said: "We would have to take a closer look. There are many historians, for instance in the National Remembrance Institute".
"I can give you a name that to me is a great authority with regards to these issues, even though he is not a scientist – Mr Marek Zając, the current Secretary of the International Auschwitz Council", said Mr Gowin. "He was a very close associate of Professor Władysław Bartoszewski. One doesn’t have to be a scientist, in order to be an expert", he added.
"Moderation in voicing radical opinions"
According to Mr Gowin, "at the head of such important organisation as the International Auschwitz Council should stand a person who avoids controversial public comments, and who is rather moderate when it comes to voicing quite radical opinions on political issues".
"I would prefer, if at the helm of the Council stood a scientist, a moral authority, but at the same time, a person who would separate the topic of Auschwitz from the contemporary political disputes. I’m certain that prime minister Morawiecki will be able to find such person", said the deputy prime minister.
"I don’t understand what’s going on"
Jarosław Gowin was also asked, whether or not, it is was a right decision to withdraw funding for the yearbook "The Holocaust. Study and Materials". He replied that in this case, he "doesn’t understand what’s going on".
The Minister of Culture and National Heritage, Piotr Gliński has reviewed the appeals against the results of the competition for funding of periodicals. The yearbook published by researchers from the Polish Center for Holocaust Research will not be receiving funds from the Book Institute, that reports to the ministry.
"I can only say that the National Science Centre granted Professor Engelking a subsidy worth over half a million zloty for continuing her research. This clearly proves that freedom of science and research, also regarding the Holocaust, or should I say, especially the Holocaust, is by no means endangered", explained Mr Gowin. He added that he haven’t spoken with prime minister Morawiecki on whether or not, Professor Engelking will cease to be the Chairperson of the International Auschwitz Council.
Autor: gf/ / Źródło: tvn24
Źródło zdjęcia głównego: tvn24