"We need to build the strength of the state, to rebuild it in many aspects. Not only moral, but also material arguments constitute the strength that we need. Only when combined, these two arguments can give us this strength," said the chairman of the ruling Law and Justice party, Jarosław Kaczyński during the commemorations of the ninth anniversary of the Smolensk crash.
"Nine years is a significant period in the history a nation, during these nine years so many things happened in so many places all over the world, things that changed the course of history. One might ask why in Poland we are still organising happenings, masses, meetings or rallies to honour those who had died," said Kaczyński. "The death of 96 people is a good reason alone, but we all know how short the society's memory can be. In this case, however, something else is at stake," he added.
"The visit to Smoleńsk wasn't an ordinary trip, it was a mission that pertained to matters much broader than just the memory of those who got murdered 80 years ago. What was really important, was Poland's regaining of something that was taken from us during WWII, after the war and after 1989 as well - the right to the truth and, in our case, also the right to dignity," he said.
He underscored that if we want to have "the status of a great European nation, then we must fight for this truth".
"We must remember, but we also need to think about the future. We must remember the decisions that may be crucial for the future of our nation. Poland must prevail, Poles must prevail," said the chairman of Law and Justice.
Poland’s top officials, President Andrzej Duda, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, politicians and thousands of people across the country took part in commemorations of the 9th anniversary of the Smoleńsk plane crash which were held on 10 April.
Holy Masses were celebrated at home and abroad for the 96 victims of the Tu-154M plane crash. Flowers were laid and candles lit at the sites devoted to the memory of those who perished on 10 April 2010.
The greatest tragedy in the history of post-WWII Poland occurred in the early hours of 10 April 2010. The plane crash claimed the lives of Poland’s President Lech Kaczyński, First Lady Maria Kaczyńska, the last President-in-exile Ryszard Kaczorowski, top state officials, commanders of the Armed Forces, members of the Katyń families, and crew members, who were on their way to attend celebrations to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Katyń Crime.
Autor: gf / Źródło: TVN24 News in English, PAP, msz.gov