Martti Ahtisaari
Martti Ahtisaari
Martti Oiva Kalevi Ahtisaari; born 23 June 1937) is a Finnish politician, the tenth President of Finland, Nobel Peace Prize laureate and United Nations diplomat and mediator, noted for his international peace work...
NationalityFinnish
ProfessionPolitician
Date of Birth23 June 1937
CityVyborg, Finland
CountryFinland
peace people
I have no superhuman powers. If people don't want to make peace, there is nothing I can do.
along attacked became born city displaced eternally fellow found lost mediator origins peace rest soviet union
The origins of my career as a peace mediator can be found from my childhood years. I was born in the city of Viipuri, then still part of Finland. We lost Viipuri when the Soviet Union attacked my country. Along with 400,000 fellow Karelians, I became an eternally displaced person in the rest of Finland.
consulting difficult forward help issues mediator medical midwife open parties peace role task teacher
The task of the mediator is to help the parties to open difficult issues and nudge them forward in the peace process. The mediator's role combines those of a ship's pilot, consulting medical doctor, midwife and teacher.
given peace people responsibility
The only people that can make peace are the parties to the conflict, and just as they are responsible for the conflict and its consequences, so should they be given responsibility and recognition for the peace.
allowing conflicts peace
Peace is a question of will. All conflicts can be settled, and there are no excuses for allowing them to become eternal.
others
I know what it's like when you are a refugee, living on the mercy of others and having to adjust.
less people
I'm one of those people who, as long as I am still healthy and my thoughts are more or less clear, I don't think I can retire entirely.
If one has problems with immigrant communities in Europe, that should not be used against Turkey.
choice excellent extremely good
It's an excellent choice ... for an organization that does extremely good work.
anybody former means mere state
The mere fact that I'm former head of state and former under-secretary in the U.N. system, it means that I can get in touch with anybody in the world, in theory.
appeal concerned entering exercise parties restraint sensitive talks utmost
As the talks are entering a sensitive phase, I appeal to all parties concerned to exercise utmost restraint on the ground.
agreement describe difficult execution taken
Considering what has taken place during the negotiations and in the execution of the agreement, it would be difficult not to describe this as a success.
caused conflicts human wars
Wars and conflicts are not inevitable. They are caused by human beings.
beginning
This is the beginning of a new era.