Picture of Israeli president Shimon Peres. (Photograph attributed to Wikipedia)

by Karl Thornton of The Frankfurt Express

On Monday, Israeli president Shimon Peres arrived in Germany for a special visit, which will see him presenting a speech in Parliament to mark the Holocaust. Peres is joined on his visit to Germany by survivors of Nazi death camps, in order for them to commemorate those who tragically lost their lives in the concentration camps in the Second World War.  

A statement said that Peres will also hold important talks with Germany's  Chancellor, Angela Merkel, and Peres's German counterpart, Horst Kohler, with the Middle East also on the agenda. The President arrived in Berlin on Monday, and was immediately greeted by the freezing weather, a 21-gun salute and a guard of honour.

Ayelet Frish, spokeswoman for Peres' office said, "The trip marks the completion of a personal circle for the president, whose own grandparents and uncle were burned alive in the Vishneva synagogue."

The president's speech - "The International Holocaust Remembrance Day" is to be held on January 27.