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Trump’s visit a chance for Poland’s politics of memory: official

17.08.2019 07:30
Donald Trump’s trip to Poland is a chance for the country’s politics of memory, an official has said ahead of the US president’s planned visit later this month.
Szymon Szynkowski vel Sęk
Szymon Szynkowski vel SękPAP/Radek Pietruszka

US President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump are scheduled to travel to Poland on a visit from August 31 to September 2.

The US presidential couple “will attend commemorative ceremonies and visit memorial sites in Warsaw on September 1, 2019, on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the beginning of World War II,” the White House press secretary said in a statement at the end of last month.

In an interview with public broadcaster Polish Radio, Poland’s Deputy Foreign Minister Szymon Szynkowski vel Sęk said that it was not universally acknowledged what the role of Poland had been in World War II.

“The US president’s visit on this date and, hopefully, his words, will turn the world’s attention to Poland and to this historical fact as well,” Szynkowski vel Sęk added.

According to Szynkowski vel Sęk, further talks concerning a decision in June by the US to station an additional 1,000 troops, on top of roughly 4,500 already stationed in Poland, were also expected to take place during the visit.

Last week, a deputy head of the Polish President’s Office said that Trump was also “very likely” to address the issue of lifting visas for Poles travelling to America.

(jh)

Source: IAR