Finland’s former president and recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, has passed away in Helsinki at the age of 86, following a battle with Alzheimer’s disease, as announced by 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 the president from 1994 to 2000, this skilled mediator brokered peace agreements in global conflicts spanning from Indonesia to Kosovo and Namibia. His remarkable career of over 40 years culminated in receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in 2008.
This former UN diplomat is notably recognized for his role in the 2005 reconciliation between the Indonesian government and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) rebels, ultimately putting an end to a three-decade-long conflict responsible for the loss of approximately 15,000 lives.
Ahtisaari was described by both parties as resolute during the negotiations, yet possessing a delightful sense of humor and warmth during informal moments.
“I have enormous amounts of patience. I don’t usually get angry, but I can be tough,” he mentioned afterward, noting that he believed his success was an ability to understand people.
Ahtisaari played a significant role in guiding Kosovo toward its pursuit of independence, despite his strenuous endeavors falling short of reaching an agreement with Serbia before Pristina unilaterally declared independence in 2008.
In September 2021, Ahtisaari withdrew from the public sphere as he grappled with Alzheimer’s disease.