On 1 September President Andrzej Duda will visit Tczew and take part in commemorations of the WWII outbreak anniversary; at Westerplatte, he will be represented by top officers from National Security Bureau (BBN) - the Chief of the Cabinet of the President Krzysztof Szczerski informed on Friday.
Asked, whether or not, the President will accept the Mayor of Gdańsk Paweł Adamowicz's invitation to WWII outbreak commemorations at Westerplatte, Mr Szczerski informed that Andrzej Duda has been planning to visit Tczew on 1 September for long time now.
He stressed that the President's decision results from his intention to commemorate the civilians killed during German attack on Poland.
President's aide also mentioned that Tczew, as well as Wieluń where Andrzej Duda attended commemorations last year, were one of the first targets of German bombings. Both attacks symbolise a total war which was aimed not only at military targets, but also against civilians and civic infrastructure.
"At Westerplatte commemorations, the President will be represented by top officers from National Security Bureau," added Mr Szczerski.
Tug of war
Polish Armed Forces are an integral part of Westerplatte; each year the representatives of uniformed services partake in the commemorations of the anniversary of World War Two outbreak, and this year will be no different, said the Mayor of Gdańsk Paweł Adamowicz on Thursday.
The Mayor of Gdańsk referred in this way to the comment by the Minister of Defense Mariusz Błaszczak made earlier on Thursday. The minister said that, by the order of Mr Adamowicz, the army representatives are to be excluded from the Westerplatte commemorations.
Shortly after the mayor of Gdańsk issued his statement, the ministry of defense responded and accused Mr Adamowicz of lying. The ministry added that it upholds the demand to reverse the decision to exclude the army representatives from the September 1 commemorations.
Autor: gf / Źródło: TVN24 International, PAP