A diplomat for more than 30 years and president of Finland from 1994 to 2000, Martti Ahtisaari has served as peacemaker in some of the world’s most troubled areas. His commitments to strengthening civil society, extending democratic practices, and furthering peaceful cooperation and coexistence have repeatedly led foreign governments to seek his aid in resolving difficult and violent conflicts.
Martti Oiva Kalevi Ahtisaari was born on June 23, 1937, in the city of Viipuri. He graduated from the University of Oulu in 1959 and joined the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland in 1965. President Ahtisaari held various posts in the Ministry’s Bureau for Technical Co-operation from 1965 to 1972 and held the position of deputy director, Department for International Development Co-operation, the following year. He went on to serve as ambassador of Finland to the United Republic of Tanzania and was also accredited to Zambia, Somalia, and Mozambique.
In 1977 Martti Ahtisaari became United Nations commissioner for Namibia and in 1978 was appointed special representative of the secretary-general for Namibia. When his term as commissioner came to an end, he returned to Helsinki to serve in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. The UN called upon President Ahtisaari once again in 1987, when he was appointed under secretary-general for administration and management. He retained the title of special representative of the secretary-general for Namibia throughout this time and led the UN’s Transition Assistance Group in Namibia from 1989 to 1990. President Ahtisaari helped to supervise Namibia’s move toward independence from South Africa, playing a key role in ensuring a smooth transition through free and fair elections. In appreciation, the government of Namibia made President Ahtisaari an honorary citizen.
President Ahtisaari assumed the position of secretary of state in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland in 1991. The following year, he was named chairman of the Bosnia-Herzegovina Working Group of the International Conference on the Former Yugoslavia. He also served as special adviser to the International Conference on the Former Yugoslavia and to the UN secretary-general’s special representative for the former Yugoslavia. In February 1994 Martti Ahtisaari became the first directly-elected president of the Republic of Finland. During his tenure as president, he led Finland’s entry into the European Union and took an active role in Finland’s foreign and security policy. Since leaving office in February 2000, President Ahtisaari has continued his peacemaking efforts. In May the British government appointed him to the team overseeing the inspections of IRA weapons dumps in Northern Ireland.
This summer the European Court of Human Rights asked President Ahtisaari to participate in a review of the Austrian government’s record on human rights. President Ahtisaari serves in leadership roles in several international institutions and foundations. He is co-chairman of the EastWest Institute and serves as a member of the joint advisors’ group for the Open Society Institute and the Soros Foundation. He chairs the Balkan Youth and Children Foundation and the Global Commission of the International Youth Foundation, as well as the international board of the War-Torn Societies Project. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance. Through these activities, President Ahtisaari maintains his commitment to improving the international community’s ability to prevent crisis and conflict.
President Ahtisaari is married to Eeva Ahtisaari. They have one son, Marko.
Martti Oiva Kalevi Ahtisaari was born on June 23, 1937, in the city of Viipuri. He graduated from the University of Oulu in 1959 and joined the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland in 1965. President Ahtisaari held various posts in the Ministry’s Bureau for Technical Co-operation from 1965 to 1972 and held the position of deputy director, Department for International Development Co-operation, the following year. He went on to serve as ambassador of Finland to the United Republic of Tanzania and was also accredited to Zambia, Somalia, and Mozambique.
In 1977 Martti Ahtisaari became United Nations commissioner for Namibia and in 1978 was appointed special representative of the secretary-general for Namibia. When his term as commissioner came to an end, he returned to Helsinki to serve in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. The UN called upon President Ahtisaari once again in 1987, when he was appointed under secretary-general for administration and management. He retained the title of special representative of the secretary-general for Namibia throughout this time and led the UN’s Transition Assistance Group in Namibia from 1989 to 1990. President Ahtisaari helped to supervise Namibia’s move toward independence from South Africa, playing a key role in ensuring a smooth transition through free and fair elections. In appreciation, the government of Namibia made President Ahtisaari an honorary citizen.
President Ahtisaari assumed the position of secretary of state in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland in 1991. The following year, he was named chairman of the Bosnia-Herzegovina Working Group of the International Conference on the Former Yugoslavia. He also served as special adviser to the International Conference on the Former Yugoslavia and to the UN secretary-general’s special representative for the former Yugoslavia. In February 1994 Martti Ahtisaari became the first directly-elected president of the Republic of Finland. During his tenure as president, he led Finland’s entry into the European Union and took an active role in Finland’s foreign and security policy. Since leaving office in February 2000, President Ahtisaari has continued his peacemaking efforts. In May the British government appointed him to the team overseeing the inspections of IRA weapons dumps in Northern Ireland.
This summer the European Court of Human Rights asked President Ahtisaari to participate in a review of the Austrian government’s record on human rights. President Ahtisaari serves in leadership roles in several international institutions and foundations. He is co-chairman of the EastWest Institute and serves as a member of the joint advisors’ group for the Open Society Institute and the Soros Foundation. He chairs the Balkan Youth and Children Foundation and the Global Commission of the International Youth Foundation, as well as the international board of the War-Torn Societies Project. He is also a member of the Board of Directors of the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance. Through these activities, President Ahtisaari maintains his commitment to improving the international community’s ability to prevent crisis and conflict.
President Ahtisaari is married to Eeva Ahtisaari. They have one son, Marko.
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The more you lose yourself in something bigger than yourself, the more energy you will have!! 
