TZ hails late Ahtisaari’s dedication to reconciliation
TANZANIA will remember Finland’s former President, late Martti Ahtisaari for strengthening cooperation between the two countries and dedicating his whole life to reconciliation issues in the world.
This was said by Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Ambassador Mbarouk Nassor Mbarouk, after signing the condolence book on Tuesday in the Embassy of Finland in Dar es Salaam, following the death of President Ahtisaari on October 16th this year.
” Ahtisaari will be remembered as a smart leader of Finland who strengthened the close cooperation between Finland and Tanzania through his position as Ambassador, which he served in the country from 1973 to 1976,” Ambassador Mbarouk said.
Mr Ahtisaari died at the age of 86. He was the President of Finland from 1994 to 2000 and served as Ambassador of Finland to Tanzania from 1973 to 1976. Through the position, the late Ahtisaari worked as a close friend to the late President Mwalimu Julius Nyerere, the late Benjamin William Mkapa and Dr Jakaya Kikwete.
Ambassador Mbarouk said that the late Ahtisaari collaborated with retired presidents to establish strategies to find peace in countries with conflicts in Africa, especially Burundi through the Crisis Management Initiative (CMI), of which he is the founder.
Being recognised as a mediator of peace, the late Ahtisaari was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2008 and was praised for promoting brotherhood between nations without showing off.
“On behalf of Tanzania, we would like to send our condolences to the people and the government of Finland as well as the family for the passing of an excellent and peace-loving leader. May God rest him in peace,” Ambassador Mbarouk added.
Mr Ahtisaari was elected President of the Republic of Finland in February 1994. He
held office from March 1st 1994 to February 29th 2000.
Upon completion of his one term in office as President of Finland, Martti Ahtisaari
founded the Crisis Management Initiative, an NGO dedicated to conflict resolution, crisis management and peace mediation, in year 2000.
On May 1st 2021, CMI transferred all its operations to the new legal structure CMI Martti Ahtisaari Peace Foundation, which continues the work of CMI association.
In 2005, Ahtisaari and CMI facilitated the peace process between the government of Indonesia and the Free Aceh Movement.
Between November 14th 2005 and February 29th 2008, Ahtisaari was Special
Envoy to the Secretary-General of the United Nations for the future status process for
Kosovo. Martti Ahtisaari was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2008.
In 1999, during his remaining time as President of Finland Mr Ahtisaari, former Prime Minister of Russia Victor Chernomyrdin and US Deputy Secretary of State Strobe Talbott facilitated together the withdrawal of the Yugoslav/Serbian military and security forces from Kosovo and the establishment of an international security and civil presence.
