Martti Ahtisaari Winner of the 2008 Nobel Prize in Peace

MARTTI AHTISAARI

2008 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate

for his important efforts, on several continents and over more than three decades, to resolve international conflicts.

Background

Born: June 23, 1937 Place of birth: Viipuri, Finland Nationality: Finland

Biographical highlights: 1965 Joined the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland in its Bureau for International Development Aid 1968 Married Eeva Irmeli Hyvarinen 1973-1977 Finland's ambassador to Tanzania, Zambia, Somalia and Mozambique 1977-1981 United Nations Commissioner for Namibia 1984-1986 Under-Secretary of State in charge of International Development Cooperation in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland 1987-1991 United Nations' Under-Secretary-General for Administration and Management 1989 UN Special Representative heading the United Nations Transition Assistance Group (UNTAG) 1989 Received OR Tambo award for "his outstanding achievement as a diplomat and commitment to the cause of freedom in Africa and peace in the world" 1994-2000 President of Finland 2000 Founded Crisis Management Initiative, an independent, non-profit organisation that innovatively promotes and works for sustainable security 2000 Inspector of the IRA's arms' dumps 2003-2005 UN Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa 2005 Facilitated the peace process between the Government of Indonesia and the Free Aceh Movement in 2005 2005-2008 Special Envoy of the Secretary-General of the United Nations for the future status process for Kosovo (UNOSEK) 2008 Recipient of the UNESCO Felix Houphouet-Boigny Peace Prize 2008 Recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize

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