Russia pledges 1 million USD for Auschwitz site conservation
PR dla Zagranicy
Peter Gentle
14.01.2014 14:50
Russia has contributed one million US dollars to an international fund for the conservation and maintenance of the Auschwitz-Birkenau former Nazi German death camp in southern Poland.
photo - wiki/CC
The Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation, which was established five years ago this month, hopes to create a special Perpetuity Fund of 120 million euros to ensure the consolidation, restoration and long-term maintenance of the camp site.
The most sizable contribution, of 60 million euros, has already been offered by Germany: the United States has contributed 15 million US dollars, Poland 10 million euros and Austria 6 million.
The site of the Auschwitz camp extends over an area of almost 200 hectares and comprises 155 buildings, most which are badly in need of repair.
The priority task is the conservation of 45 brick barracks at Auschwitz II-Birkenau.
The conservation projects are also to cover the camp’s archives, documents and objects in the museum collection.
Events marking the 69th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz by the Soviet Red Army will be held on 27 January. (mk/pg)