Barack Obama after calling for a minute’s silence at nuclear security conference, Washington. Photo - East NewsPresident Barack Obama will be in Poland to attend Lech Kaczynski’s funeral on Sunday.
“The president will travel to Krakow to express the depth of our condolences to an important and trusted ally and our support for the Polish people, on behalf of the American people," says a White House statement.
Following the death of President Kaczynski, First Lady Maria and 94 others in Saturday’s plane crash in Smolensk, President Obama said: "Our thoughts and prayers are with the Kaczynski family, the loved ones of those killed in this tragic plane crash, and the Polish nation.”
“For some time we have had indications that President Obama expressed willingness to come to the funeral ceremonies,” said Foreign Ministry spokesman Piotr Paszkowski.
The Foreign Ministry has not officially announced which other national leaders will attend the funeral in the Wawel chapel in Krakow on Sunday, but top politicians from the European Union and NATO, the German chancellor and presidents of Georgia, France and Russia are expected. (pg)
Source: PAP,AP