I know what it’s like when you are a refugee, living on the mercy of others and having to adjust. Martti Ahtisaari Read Quote
I saw an advertisement to work for a Swedish institute in Karachi in Pakistan. I had just been offered a permanent assignment, teaching in Oulu. But I felt, ‘My God, I am not going to stay here forever.’ You know why? Because I was following international events. Martti Ahtisaari Read Quote
Normally, I like to eat at home. We don’t go out much. The food at home is so good. Martti Ahtisaari Read Quote
You need to carry out very careful pre-feasibility and feasibility studies before you enter any crisis situation. Martti Ahtisaari Read Quote
With my mother, I moved from one household to another before settling in the eastern part of Finland, in the city of Kuopio. Martti Ahtisaari Read Quote
Perhaps it’s a curse, but when you are a Lutheran, you have a sense of responsibility. Martti Ahtisaari Read Quote
The origins of my career as a peace mediator can be found from my childhood years. I was born in the city of Viipuri, then still part of Finland. We lost Viipuri when the Soviet Union attacked my country. Along with 400,000 fellow Karelians, I became an eternally displaced person in the rest of Finland. Martti Ahtisaari Read Quote
The only people that can make peace are the parties to the conflict, and just as they are responsible for the conflict and its consequences, so should they be given responsibility and recognition for the peace. Martti Ahtisaari Read Quote
