Auschwitz barrack could stay in Washington till next year

Poland’s minister of culture Bogdan Zdrojewski has said that a barrack from Auschwitz-Birkenau, now on loan at the Holocaust Museum in Washington, should be returned to Poland.

Talking to reporters in Warsaw, he recalled that it had been loaned to the Americans in 1989 for a ten-year period, which was subsequently extended for another ten years.

Mr Zdrojewski added, however, that “the expectations of the American side for the barrack to remain in Washington until the 20th anniversary of the Holocaust Museum in 2013 are also important”.

“Such an option shall be examined,” he said, stressing that it would require a legal modification of the loan agreement.

The minister’s remarks came a day after the Washington Holocaust Museum issued a statement which saying that “due to the barrack's size and the complexity of its installation, removing and transporting it to Poland presents special difficulties, including potentially damaging the artifact.

“Both the Museum and our Polish partners have been actively discussing various proposals, and we remain committed to continue working with them to resolve this matter,” the statement continued.

Former foreign minister of Poland, Wladyslaw Bartoszewski, himself an Auschwitz survivor said this week that if the exhibit is not returned to Poland then “future cooperation between Jewish and Polish museums could be in danger in the future”. (mk/pg)