- My biggest achievement was in Namibia, said Martti Ahtisaari.
10/10/2008 :: This year's Nobel Peace Prize has been won by peace negotiator Martti Ahtisaari. The former Finnish President will receive the prize in Oslo on 10 December, the anniversary of the death in 1896 of the awards' founder, Swedish inventor Alfred Nobel.
The Nobel committee commended Mr Ahtisaari, 71, "for his important efforts, on several continents and over more than three decades, to resolve international conflicts."
The citation continued: "He has figured prominently in endeavours to resolve several serious and long-lasting conflicts," mentioning his roles in Namibia, Aceh, Kosovo and Iraq.
"He has also made constructive contributions to the resolution of conflicts in Northern Ireland, in Central Asia and on the Horn of Africa," it said.
Mr Ahtisaari told the Norwegian broadcaster NRK he thought his biggest achievement was in Namibia. "It was absolutely the most important because it took such a long time," he said. Mr Ahtissari also said he was "very pleased and grateful" to receive the award.
Mr Ahtisaari had a central role in the negotiations that led to Namibia’s independence from South Africa in 1990. Former Norwegian Prime Minister Kjell Mange Bondevik told NRK that he especially remember Martti Ahtisaari’s effort in the negotiations in Namibia. “Mr Ahtisaari was able to bring people together over conflict zones,” said Mr Bondevik.
“Martti Ahtisaari is a peacebuilder who has inspired hope in many people. It is a great pleasure for me to congratulate Mr Ahtisaasri on a most well-deserved Nobel Peace Prize,” said the Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg in a press release. “He has worked tirelessly for many years to find solutions to a number of difficult conflicts in the world and should be applauded for his deep commitment to peace.”
Mr Ahtisaari also headed the negotiations that led to peace in Aceh, Indonesia, in 2005 following a conflict that took 15 000 lives.
“In his efforts to promote peace and resolve conflict in many parts of the world, Martti Ahtisaari is a true champion of a better world,” said the Prime Minister.
The laureate wins a gold medal, diploma and 10m Swedish kronor ($1.42m). The winners were chosen by a secretive five-member Norwegian awards committee from 197 nominations this year.