Ex-President Ahtisaari passes away

Former President Martti Ahtisaari passed away in Helsinki on Monday morning at 6:40 after a long illness, said a press release issued by the office of the Finnish President. He was 86.

Martti Oiva Kalevi Ahtisaari served as the tenth President of Finland from 1994 to 2000.

Before his presidency, he held a number of key positions in the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs and the United Nations.

After his presidency, Ahtisaari founded CMI – Martti Ahtisaari Peace Foundation, a peace brokerage organisation held in high regard, and played a prominent role in international peace talks and mediation efforts.

In recognition of his work to resolve international conflicts President Ahtisaari was award the Nobel Peace Prize in 2008.

President Sauli Niinistö expressed profound shock at the death of the former President.

“It is with great sadness that we have received the news of the death of President Martti Ahtisaari. Martti Ahtisaari believed in humankind, civilisation and goodness, and he lived a great, significant life. He was President in times of change, who piloted Finland into a global EU era”, said Niinistö.