Rau Visits Holocaust Memorial in Budapest

German President Johannes Rau visited the newly opened Holocaust memorial and museum in Budapest as part of his three-day state visit to Hungary. The museum, which also includes a research center, is dedicated to the memory of the 600,000 Hungarian Jews who were murdered by the Nazis. On Monday, Rau met with his Hungarian counterpart, Ferenc Madl. He praised the good relationship between Germany and Hungary, saying the two nations are bound by a thousand years of shared history. In particular, Rau remembered Hungary's role in German reunification. In 1989, Hungary was the first country to open its borders to citizens of the former East Germany, thereby providing them with a route to West Germany. Hungary is the last country Rau will visit during his presidency. On May 23, German parliamentarians and representatives from the 16 states will elect a new German president.