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Fulbright Association
1100 G Street, N.W.
Suite 525
Washington, D.C. 20005
Phone: (202) 347-5543
Fax: (202) 347-6540 |
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Biography of Martti Ahtisaari |
| 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. |
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