PM Xavier Bettel presents Auschwitz Survivor Marian Turski with Order of Merit

Yesterday, on the second day of his trip to Poland, Luxembourg's Prime Minister Xavier Bettel bestowed upon Marian Turski, an historian and Auschwitz survivor, the Order of Merit of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.

The day began with the Prime Minister's visit to the Jewish cemetery in Warsaw to pay tribute to all the victims of the Holocaust. He was accompanied on this occasion by Marian Turski, a survivor of the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp. Xavier Bettel then took the opportunity to present the insignia of the Order of Merit of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg to Marian Turski at the Luxembourg Embassy in Warsaw.

Marian Turski is an historian and a survivor of the Holocaust and Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. The 93-year-old has authored many books and articles and, to this day, he continues to travel and work as a publicist. He is president of the Jewish Historical Institute in Warsaw, a member of the board of directors of the Association of Jewish Combatants and Victims of World War II and vice-president of the International Auschwitz Committee. He was also one of the main initiators of the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews in Warsaw. Marian Tursky's prominent role as a prominent journalist, publicist and Jewish activist has been widely recognised in his own country, as well as abroad. He has received several Polish and international awards, now including the Order of Merit of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, for his commitment and achievements.

During the award ceremony on Tuesday, Luxembourg's Prime Minister commented: “There are many reasons to honor Marian Turski, a friend of Luxembourg. Yesterday I had the honour and privilege of attending the commemorations for the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau extermination camp, of which Marian Turski was one of the main speakers. Marian's speech was an extremely strong statement. He told us: 'don't be indifferent to discrimination!' Because that's how horrors like Auschwitz happen. Not all at once, but gradually, and each time a person decides not to stand up against hatred and discrimination. We all have a role to play in ensuring that such an atrocity never happens again. I will do mine and I hope you will do yours".

That same day, Xavier Bettel met with Poland's President Andrzej Duda to discuss bilateral relations between Luxembourg and Poland, as well as European affairs, including migration, the rule of law, the climate and the multiannual financial framework (MFF). In this context, the Prime Minister reiterated Luxembourg's position that the future MFF is essential for implementing the strategic programme of the European Union. He commented: "Without an ambitious, modern and reformed European budget, the single market will remain fragmented and we will not be able to finance our political priorities adequately".