We must prepare the ground for creativity. And if this also gives rise later to success in the economic sense, success in terms of Euros and Cents, this will by no means reduce my joy.

Rau had a deep and lifelong commitment to bringing reconciliation between Germany and its past. Only two months later (19 October 2004) a hematoma in the abdominal cavity was surgically removed. However Israeli President MoJohannes Rau Katsav supported and praised him for bridging the gap between the two states.

Johannes Rau (German pronunciation: [joˈhanəs ˈʁaʊ]; 16 January 1931 – 27 January 2006) was a German politician of the SPD.