Putin marks Katyn massacre with Polish counterpart
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and his Polish counterpart Donald Tusk marked the 70th anniversary of the Katyn massacre.
Wednesday, 07.04.2010.
14:21
Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and his Polish counterpart Donald Tusk marked the 70th anniversary of the Katyn massacre. The historic ceremony marked efforts to warm up relations between the Kremlin and Warsaw, reports said. Putin marks Katyn massacre with Polish counterpart The two leaders listened to Christian, Jewish and Muslim prayers for the dead at a monument in the Katyn forest, western Russia, where the Soviet secret police shot some 22,000 Polish officers of all faiths in 1940 and buried them in mass graves in an atrocity that continues to strain relations. After World War II, when Poland was lead by a Kremlin-backed communist regime, Soviet authorities blamed the massacre on Nazi Germany and suppressed historical evidence. Russia only acknowledged responsibility for the mass killings in 1990. Putin is the highest-ranking Russian official to attended such ceremonies, which began to be marked after communism collapsed in 1989. Analysts called Putin's attendance a symbolic gesture that could signal a breakthrough in relations. Commentators said the visit shows Russia values Poland as a strategic partner, and acknowledges Warsaw's growing influence in the European Union, which it joined in 2004. Former Solidarity leader Lech Walesa was also in attendance, along with Tadeusz Mazowiecki, Poland's first non-communist prime minister. The prayers were followed with a military salute, laying of wreaths and playing of the Polish national anthem. Putin and Tusk later walked down a pathway lined with the names of victims in the forest. Tusk's visit was to include talks with Putin on current political matters, while the ceremonies were slated to include speeches later from both leaders. In nearby Smolensk, a Polish-Russian group created in 2002 to deal with controversial matters in Polish-Russian history was to present its latest findings to Tusk and Putin. The group has sought to open up archives in both nations. Poland wants Russia to release the documents it holds on the Katyn massacre, which Warsaw says it needs as proof to bring the perpetrators of the killings to justice. Vladimir Putin is seen during the ceremony today (Beta/AP)
Putin marks Katyn massacre with Polish counterpart
The two leaders listened to Christian, Jewish and Muslim prayers for the dead at a monument in the Katyn forest, western Russia, where the Soviet secret police shot some 22,000 Polish officers of all faiths in 1940 and buried them in mass graves in an atrocity that continues to strain relations.After World War II, when Poland was lead by a Kremlin-backed communist regime, Soviet authorities blamed the massacre on Nazi Germany and suppressed historical evidence. Russia only acknowledged responsibility for the mass killings in 1990.
Putin is the highest-ranking Russian official to attended such ceremonies, which began to be marked after communism collapsed in 1989. Analysts called Putin's attendance a symbolic gesture that could signal a breakthrough in relations.
Commentators said the visit shows Russia values Poland as a strategic partner, and acknowledges Warsaw's growing influence in the European Union, which it joined in 2004.
Former Solidarity leader Lech Walesa was also in attendance, along with Tadeusz Mazowiecki, Poland's first non-communist prime minister.
The prayers were followed with a military salute, laying of wreaths and playing of the Polish national anthem. Putin and Tusk later walked down a pathway lined with the names of victims in the forest.
Tusk's visit was to include talks with Putin on current political matters, while the ceremonies were slated to include speeches later from both leaders.
In nearby Smolensk, a Polish-Russian group created in 2002 to deal with controversial matters in Polish-Russian history was to present its latest findings to Tusk and Putin. The group has sought to open up archives in both nations.
Poland wants Russia to release the documents it holds on the Katyn massacre, which Warsaw says it needs as proof to bring the perpetrators of the killings to justice.
0 Komentari
Možda vas zanima
Zakazan sastanak: Sprema se kraj rata?
Savetnici za nacionalnu bezbednost i visoki zvaničnici iz celog sveta spremaju se za sastanak koji će ovog vikenda biti održan u katarskoj prestonici Dohi.
15:07
25.4.2024.
1 d
Stiže novi "pakao"; Spremite se
Kao u prvih 15 dana aprila, ovaj mesec će se završiti natprosečnim temperaturama. Prema najavi RHMZ u nedelju i do prve polovine naredne sedmice temperature će dostići letnje vrednosti.
7:21
26.4.2024.
19 h
Rat – dan 792: Novi udarac za Zelenskog; Žestoke borbe, na hiljade mrtvih; Stigla osveta
Rat u Ukrajini – 792. dan. Udari ukrajinskih dronova na ruska skladišta goriva i čeličanu.
23:38
25.4.2024.
1 d
"Poslali su 120.000 vojnika na našu granicu; Oni su narkomani..."
Predsednik Belorusije Aleksandar Lukašenko izjavio da je Ukrajina koncentrisala grupu od 120.000 vojnika u blizini beloruske granice.
14:49
25.4.2024.
1 d
Stigle nove cene goriva: Evo koliko ćemo plaćati dizel
Stigle su nove cene goriva, tako da će od danas od 15 časova, na pumpama u Srbiji litar evro dizela koštati 206 dinara, a litar benzina evropremijum BMB biće 198 dinara.
11:48
26.4.2024.
15 h
Komentari 0