Skopje, 26 January 2025 (MIA) – President Gordana Siljanovska Davkova is set to attend on Monday the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi German concentration and extermination camp Auschwitz-Birkenau in Oświęcim, Poland.

Many heads of state and government, members of royal families, and top EU officials will attend the event.

In addition to the Macedonian delegation, the commemoration will be attended by the presidents of Austria - Alexander Van der Bellen, Bulgaria - Rumen Radev, Czechia - Petr Pavel, Estonia - Alar Karis, Finland - Alexander Stubb, France - Emmanuel Macron, Germany - Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Hungary - Tamás Sulyok, Italy - Sergio Mattarella, Moldova - Maia Sandu, Montenegro - Jakov Milatović, Kosovo - Vjosa Osmani-Sadriu, Poland - Andrzej Duda, Slovakia - Peter Pellegrini, and Slovenia - Nataša Pirc Musar. The prime ministers of Belgium - Alexander De Croo, Canada - Justin Trudeau, Croatia - Andrej Plenković, the Netherlands - Dick Schoof, Norway - Jonas Gahr Støre, and Sweden - Ulf Kristersson are also expected to attend.

Among the attendees will be members of royal families, including King Charles III of the United Kingdom, the Belgium’s King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, the King Frederik and Queen Mary of Denmark, King Willem-Alexander, Queen Máxima, and Princess Catharina-Amalia of the Netherlands, Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain, as well as Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden.

The United States will be represented by the Special Envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, while Israel will be represented by the Minister of Education, Yoav Kisch.

Several high-ranking officials from international organizations are expected to be present, such as António Costa, President of the European Council, Roberta Metsola, President of the European Parliament, Radmila Shekerinska, NATO Deputy Secretary General, Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO Director-General, and Rosemary DiCarlo, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs.

As the Auschwitz-Birkenau Museum reported, this commemoration will feature no political speeches. Only survivors of the camp will speak, as, according to museum director Piotr Cywiński, it may be the last big commemoration where they can personally share their stories. "There will be no political speeches. The focus will be on the survivors’ stories, their pain, and trauma," Cywiński said in an interview with The Guardian.

Russia, which was represented by Vladimir Putin in 2005, will not have a delegation this time due to the ongoing war in Ukraine. "This is a day of liberation, and I don't believe that a country which does not understand the value of liberty should be part of this ceremony," Cywiński said.

The Auschwitz death camp, liberated on 27 January 1945, by Soviet troops, is a symbol of the suffering during the Holocaust. Of the approximately 1.3 million people sent to the camp, more than 1.1 million were murdered, mostly Jews.

President Siljanovska Davkova, during her official visit to Poland, will visit the Jagiellonian University in Krakow. Her agenda includes a meeting with the pro-rector, a tour of the Collegium Maius museum, and signing the guestbook. A wood carving featuring Macedonian designs will be her gift to the university, which, in turn, will present her with a replica of the Jagiellonian globe.

The Collegium Maius museum, which previously housed the Jagiellonian Library, is home to an impressive collection of manuscripts from the 14th century and stands as a historical testament to the university's legacy since 1364. Before heading to the university, Siljanovska-Davkova will meet with professors from the Institute of Slavic Studies and Macedonian linguists in Poland.

Photo: MIA archive