GDANSK, Poland, Aug. 22 (UPI) -- A total of 14 prime ministers and seven foreign ministers will honor Poland for the country's World War II efforts against Nazi Germany, an official says.
Polish Minister of Culture Bogdan Zdrojewski said the foreign officials will gather in Gdansk, Poland, Sept.1 to honor Poland's fight against invading Nazi forces at the start of World War II on Sept. 1, 1939, Polish Radio reported Thursday.
"This year there are three great anniversaries commemorated in Europe: Sept. 1, 1939; June 4, 1989 (the first free election in communistic bloc) and the fall of the Berlin Wall. Two of them are being held in Poland," Zdrojewski said Wednesday.
Among those foreign leaders scheduled to attend the Sept. 1 ceremony in Gdansk are Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek.
Zdrojewski said the ceremony is intended to connect the start of World War II in 1939 with the events of 1989, Polish Radio reported.
"The real end of World War II came with the free election in Poland in 1989 and with the fall of the wall which divided Berlin," the culture minister said.
