At least 36 world leaders, among them three monarchs and Russian President Vladimir Putin, will be in Israel’s capital on January 22-23, 2020 for the Fifth World Holocaust Forum (WHF) marking the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz by the Red Army.
The Day of Commemoration is in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust to focus on the Nazi concentration and extermination camp of Auschwitz-Birkenau, whose liberation took place 75 years ago (27 January 1945).
The occasion is consonants to be one of the most important events ever organized by Israel, with more than 40 leaders planning to land in Tel Aviv before attending Thursday’s somber commemoration at the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial centre in Jerusalem.
According to UNESCO’s official website “Auschwitz-Birkenau 75 years after” (3.15pm to 5.20pm), will focus on three themes; preserving heritage with site management, research perspectives and academic freedom and reaching new generations to deal with the past and youth empowerment.
On 27 January, 2020 official date of the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust, the Director-General of UNESCO will join more than 200 Auschwitz and Holocaust survivors along with dozens of Heads of States and Governments at the Auschwitz Memorial to mark the 75th anniversary of the the Nazi concentration and extermination camp’s liberation.
Police officers and other security forces will deploy from Tuesday, January 21, 2020 ahead of the arrival of dignitaries including Russian President Vladimir Putin, French President Emmanuel Macron and US Vice President Mike Pence.
Alongside the commemoration, events will focus on tackling contemporary anti-Semitism.
But Middle East geopolitics will also be firmly on the agenda, with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu due to the numerous bilateral meetings held recently with the key leaders of middle east.
Beyond the soaring tensions between Tehran and Washington, the dignitaries will also get an insight into Israel’s own political crisis. The focal point of the Auschwitz commemorations will be a memorial where Putin, Macron, Britain’s Prince Charles and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier will deliver the main speeches along with Reuven Rivlin, the president of Israel.
