Obama to Travel to Poland for Lech Kaczynski's Funeral
President Obama will travel to Krakow, Poland this weekend to attend the state funeral for Polish President Lech Kaczynski and First Lady Maria Kaczynska, the White House announced today.
They were among the 96 people killed Saturday in a plane crash in western Russia. There was no technical fault with the aircraft, leading investigators to suggest human error caused the crash, according to CBS News correspondent Mark Phillips. Crowds have been thronging to the center of Warsaw to pay their respects.
"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," the White House said in a statement.
Mr. Obama will leave Saturday evening to attend the funeral on Sunday. Kaczynski and Kaczynska will be buried Sunday at Krakow's Wawel Cathedral.
The president took a moment of silence today at the Nuclear Security Summit in Washington to acknowledge the tragedy.
"All of us were shocked and deeply saddened by the devastating loss of President Kaczynski, the first lady, and so many distinguished civilian and military leaders from your country," Mr. Obama said to Polish Ambassador Kupiecki, who led the Polish delegation at the summit. "This was a loss, not just for Poland, but for the world."
