The words «reconciliation instead of division» were a principal motto for the President of Germany Johannes Rau, who died in January 2006. His name is associated with a humane, socially-oriented policy which in a broad sense is overcoming the boundaries, which roots date back to the Christianity. These ideas are also the mission of International Centre for Education and Exchange Minsk, which’s work from the very beginning was supported and espoused by Johannes Rau. Without his encourage and also without the assistance of the State North Rhine-Westphalia, the centre today would not exist.
From 1 September 2006 the name of Johannes Rau is firmly connected to the International Centre for Education and Exchange Minsk. The proposal to rename IBB in Johannes Rau Centre for Education and Exchange Minsk was made by Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus at the mourning ceremony in memory of former President of Germany. It was endorsed by Johannes Rau’s wife Mrs. Christina Rau. It is a great honor and great responsibility for International Centre for Education and Exchange Minsk to promote reconciliation and mutual understanding of the Belarusian and German people in the common European home.

Curriculum Vitae

1931 January, 16 Johannes Rau was born in Wuppertal
1958-1999 Member of the Landtag of North Rhine - Westphalia
1965-1999 Member of the Synod of the Evangelical Church in Rhineland
1969-1970 Mayor of Wuppertal
1970-1978 Minister of Science and Research of North Rhine - Westphalia
1978-1998 Prime Minister of North Rhine - Westphalia
1982-1983 President of the Bundesrat
1994-1995 President of the Bundesrat
1999-2004 Federal President of Germany
2006 January, 27 Johannes Rau died in Berlin