Martti Ahtisaari, the former president of Finland and Nobel Peace Prize laureate, passed away in Helsinki at the age of 86 after a struggle with Alzheimer’s disease, announced the president’s office on Monday
“It is with deep sadness that we have received the news of the death of President Martti Ahtisaari,” the current president, Sauli Niinisto, said in a statement.
Having served as president from 1994 to 2000, the mediator played a pivotal role in resolving conflicts across the globe, from Indonesia to Kosovo and Namibia. This extraordinary career, spanning over 40 years, earned him worldwide acclaim and culminated in a Nobel Peace Prize in 2008.
The former UN diplomat was widely acknowledged for orchestrating the 2005 reconciliation between the Indonesian government and Free Aceh Movement (GAM) rebels, effectively putting an end to a thirty-year-long conflict that claimed around 15,000 lives.
Participants in the talks noted Ahtisaari’s unwavering determination, coupled with a remarkable sense of humor and warmth in more informal settings.
“I have enormous amounts of patience. I don’t usually get angry, but I can be tough,” he later said, adding that he felt the key to his success was an ability to understand people.
Ahtisaari played a significant role in guiding Kosovo towards independence, despite his tireless efforts falling short of securing an agreement with Serbia before Pristina unilaterally declared independence in 2008.
In September 2021, Ahtisaari withdrew from public life as he grappled with Alzheimer’s disease.
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