Turkish vice president attends WWII ceremony in Poland

By Mumin Altas

WARSAW, Poland (AA) – Turkey’s Vice President Fuat Oktay on Sunday attended a ceremony, to mark the 80th anniversary of the outbreak of the World War II, in the Polish capital Warsaw.

Oktay signed the memorial book after greeting Polish President Andrzej Duda at the Pilsudski Square.

The world leaders, who attended the ceremony included German President Frank Walter Steinmeier, the U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and many other presidents, prime ministers and parliament speakers representing various countries.

The participants, laid a wreath at the tomb of the ‘Unknown Soldier’, dedicated to the soldiers who have given their lives during wars.

The German president asked forgiveness from Poland, for the atrocities committed during the Nazi period.

“It is hard to imagine that cataclysm of history today, the armed conflict which brought the most disastrous consequences in the history of mankind.

We have to remember, and therefore we are gathered here today,” the Polish President, Andrzej Duda, said at the ceremony.

On the sidelines of the ceremony Oktay held talks with Austrian Parliament Speaker Wolfgang Sobotka, Slovakian President Zuzana Caputova and Slovenian President Borut Pahor.

*Writing by Burak Bir