Editing Martti Ahtisaari

{{Short description|President of Finland from 1994 to 2000}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name                = Martti Ahtisaari
| image               = Martti Ahtisaari Mäntyniemessä (cropped).jpg
| caption             = Ahtisaari in 1994
| order               = 10th
| office              = President of Finland
| primeminister       = {{ubl|[[Esko Aho]]|[[Paavo Lipponen]]}}
| term_start          = 1 March 1994
| term_end            = 1 March 2000
| predecessor         = [[Mauno Koivisto]]
| successor           = [[Tarja Halonen]]
| office2             = Ambassador of Finland to Tanzania
| term_start2         = 1973
| term_end2           = 1977
| predecessor2        = [[Seppo Pietinen]]
| successor2          = Richard Müller
| birth_name          = Martti Oiva Kalevi Ahtisaari
| birth_date          = {{birth date|1937|6|23|df=y}}
| birth_place         = Viipuri, Finland {{awrap|(now [[Vyborg]], Russia)}}
| death_date          = {{death date and age|2023|10|16|1937|6|23|df=y}}
| death_place         = [[Helsinki]], Finland
| resting_place       = [[Hietaniemi Cemetery]], Helsinki
| party               = [[Social Democratic Party of Finland|Social Democratic]]
| spouse              = {{marriage|[[Eeva Ahtisaari|Eeva Hyvärinen]]|1968}}
| children            = [[Marko Ahtisaari|Marko]]
| alma_mater          = [[University of Oulu]]
| awards              = [[Nobel Peace Prize]] (2008)
| signature           = MarttiAhtisaariSignature.svg
| branch              = [[Finnish Army]]
| rank                = [[Captain (armed forces)|Captain]]
}}

'''Martti Oiva Kalevi Ahtisaari''' ({{IPA|fi|ˈmɑrtːi (ˈoi̯ʋɑ ˈkɑleʋi) ˈɑhtisɑːri|lang|fi-Martti_Ahtisaari.ogg}}, 23 June 1937 – 16 October 2023) was a Finnish politician, the tenth [[president of Finland]], from 1994 to 2000, a [[Nobel Peace Prize]] laureate, and a United Nations diplomat and [[mediation|mediator]] noted for his international [[peace work]].

Ahtisaari was a United Nations special envoy for [[Kosovo]], charged with organizing the [[Kosovo status process]] negotiations. These negotiations aimed to resolve a long-running dispute in Kosovo, which later [[2008 Kosovo declaration of independence|declared its independence]] from [[Serbia]] in 2008. In October 2008, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize "for his important efforts, on several continents and over more than three decades, to resolve international conflicts".<ref name="nobelprize1">{{cite web|url=http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2008/|title=The Nobel Peace Prize 2008|access-date=10 October 2008|archive-date=12 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612211621/https://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2008/|url-status=live}}</ref> The Nobel statement said that Ahtisaari had played a prominent role in resolving serious and long-lasting conflicts, including ones in [[Namibia]], [[Aceh]] (Indonesia),<ref name=yle01>[https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/ahtisaari_tuomioja_haavisto_weigh_in_on_syria/6242393 "Ahtisaari, Tuomioja, Haavisto weigh in on Syria"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210617033349/https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/ahtisaari_tuomioja_haavisto_weigh_in_on_syria/6242393 |date=17 June 2021 }}, ''yle.fi'', 3 August 2012. Retrieved 5 August 2012.</ref> Kosovo and Serbia, and [[Iraq]].<ref>{{cite news|first=Lisa |last=Bryant |title=Former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari Wins Nobel Peace Prize |date=10 October 2008 |publisher=Voice of America |url=http://voanews.com/english/archive/2008-10/2008-10-10-voa8.cfm |access-date=27 December 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081117162443/http://voanews.com/english/archive/2008-10/2008-10-10-voa8.cfm |archive-date=17 November 2008 }}</ref>

== Youth and early career ==
[[File:4-vuotias Martti Ahtisaari.jpg|thumb|left|upright|4-year-old Ahtisaari, pictured on his birthday]]
Martti Ahtisaari was born in [[Viipuri]], Finland (now Vyborg, Russia) on 23 June 1937.<ref name="britannica">{{cite web|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Martti-Ahtisaari|title=Martti Ahtisaari|website=[[Encyclopedia Britannica]]|date=16 October 2023 |access-date=21 October 2023|archive-date=16 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231016092113/https://www.britannica.com/biography/Martti-Ahtisaari|url-status=live}}</ref> His father, Oiva Ahtisaari, whose grandfather Julius Marenius Adolfsen had emigrated with his parents to [[Kotka]], Finland in 1872 from [[Tistedalen]] in Southern Norway,<ref name="hbl">{{cite news|url=https://www.hbl.fi/artikel/2d16c2f6-9804-44f6-8aca-0e960c0f037b|title=Ahtisaari i födelsedagsintervju 2017: Det är inte de mest radikala som har folkets stöd|work=[[Hufvudstadsbladet]]|date=18 June 2017|language=sv|first=Jeannette|last=Björkqvist|access-date=21 October 2023|archive-date=13 August 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230813090429/https://www.hbl.fi/artikel/2d16c2f6-9804-44f6-8aca-0e960c0f037b|url-status=live}}</ref> took [[Finnish nationality law|Finnish]] [[citizenship]] in 1929 and [[Finnicization|Finnicized]] his surname from Adolfsen in 1935.<ref name="kansalli">{{cite web|url=https://kansallisbiografia.fi/kansallisbiografia/henkilo/634|title=Ahtisaari, Martti|website=[[Suomen kansallisbiografia]] (The National Biography of Finland)|language=fi|access-date=21 October 2023|archive-date=21 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231021045736/https://kansallisbiografia.fi/kansallisbiografia/henkilo/634|url-status=live}}</ref> Oiva was working as a [[non-commissioned officer|NCO]] in the supply troops in Viipuri when Martti was born.<ref name=kansalli />

The [[Continuation War]] (World War II) took Oiva Ahtisaari to the front as a non-commissioned officer army mechanic, while Martti's mother, Tyyne, moved to [[Kuopio]] with her son to escape immediate danger from the war in 1940.<ref name="geneologiafi">[http://www.genealogia.fi/vsk/44/v8-28.pdf President Ahtisaari's ancestors] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403003935/http://www.genealogia.fi/vsk/44/v8-28.pdf|date=3 April 2015}} a study by [[Suomen Sukututkimusseura]] (the Finnish [[genealogy]] [[society]]).</ref><ref name=kansalli /> Kuopio was where Ahtisaari spent most of his childhood,<ref name=Heikkinen2011>{{Cite web |title=Ahtisaari varttui Kuopion kasarmilla |last=Heikkinen |first=Martti |work=Helsingin Sanomat |date=6 August 2011 |access-date=23 August 2021 |url=https://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/art-2000004821922.html |language=fi |archive-date=23 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210823034652/https://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/art-2000004821922.html |url-status=live }}</ref> eventually attending [[Kuopion Lyseon lukio|Kuopion Lyseo]] high school.<ref name=kansalli />

In 1952, Martti Ahtisaari moved to [[Oulu]] with his family.<ref name=kansalli /> There he continued his education in [[Oulun Lyseon Lukio|high school]], graduating in 1956.<ref name=Heikkinen2011/> He also joined the local [[YMCA]].<ref name=kansalli /> After completing his military service (Ahtisaari held the rank of [[Captain (Land)|captain]] in the [[Finnish Army]] Reserve),<ref name="Turun Sanomat">{{cite news|url=https://www.ts.fi/uutiset/6133082|title=Valtakuntien sovittelija, presidentti Martti Ahtisaari on poissa|work=[[Turun Sanomat]]|first=Ilari|last=Tapio|date=16 October 2023|language=fi|access-date=23 October 2023|archive-date=21 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231021080610/https://www.ts.fi/uutiset/6133082|url-status=live}}</ref> he began to study at Oulu teachers' college, attending the two-year course which enabled him to qualify as a primary-school teacher in 1959.<ref name=kansalli /> 

In the summer of 1960, Ahtisaari signed the contract for the position of director of the Swedish Agency for International Development physical education boarding school in [[Karachi]], Pakistan, after interviewing in Sweden and hearing about the offer announced by the YMCA in April of that year.<ref name=kansalli /><ref name=britannica /> There, he also trained as a teacher.<ref name=kansalli />

He returned to Finland in 1963 and began his studies in the [[Aalto University School of Business|Helsinki School of Economics]] and soon became the Executive Director of the Helsinki International Student Club and Student International Aid, where he made friends with Namibian [[Nickey Iyambo]].<ref name=kansalli /> He also joined the international students' organisation [[AIESEC]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://aiesecusc.org/why-aiesec|title=Why AIESEC|website=AIESEC USC|access-date=23 October 2023|archive-date=24 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231024002227/https://aiesecusc.org/why-aiesec|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1965, he joined the [[Ministry for Foreign Affairs (Finland)|Ministry for Foreign Affairs]]<ref name=britannica /> in its Bureau for International Development Aid, to set up the International Development Assistance Office together with Jaakko Iloniemi, which was a pioneering office, as the Finnish presence in international cooperation in the Third World was non-existent.<ref name="MFA">{{cite web|url=https://kehityslehti.fi/presidentti-martti-ahtisaari-oli-myos-kehityksen-uranuurtaja/|title=Presidentti Martti Ahtisaari oli myös kehityksen uranuurtaja|website=[[Ministry for Foreign Affairs (Finland)|Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland]]|first=Erja-Outi|last=Heino|date=17 October 2023|language=fi|access-date=23 October 2023|archive-date=24 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231024002232/https://kehityslehti.fi/presidentti-martti-ahtisaari-oli-myos-kehityksen-uranuurtaja/|url-status=live}}</ref> Ahtisaari remained in that office until 1972, where he served from 1971 as assistant to the director, a position he combined with his presence on the Government's Advisory Committee for Trade and Industry Affairs of Developing Countries.<ref name="cidob">{{cite web|url=https://www.cidob.org/en/biografias_lideres_politicos/europa/finlandia/martti_ahtisaari|title=Martti Ahtisaari|website=[[Barcelona Centre for International Affairs]]|date=March 1994 |language=es}}</ref>

== Diplomatic career==
[[File:Martti Ahtisaari (1987 UN photo).jpg|thumb|Ahtisaari as a United Nations Under-Secretary-General, 1987]]
===In the Namibian independence transition===
Ahtisaari began his diplomatic career in 1973 when he became Finland's Ambassador to [[Tanzania]], [[Zambia]], [[Somalia]] and [[Mozambique]], an office he held until 1977.<ref name=cidob /><ref name=embtanzania>{{cite news |title=History of the Embassy of Finland, Dar es Salaam |url=http://www.finland.or.tz/public/default.aspx?nodeid=31642&contentlan=2&culture=en-US |work=Embassy of Finland, Dar es Salaam |access-date=26 June 2016 |archive-date=13 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160813183825/http://www.finland.or.tz/public/default.aspx?nodeid=31642&contentlan=2&culture=en-US |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=kansalli /> This new mission allowed him to get closer to East African affairs, monitoring from [[Dar es Salaam]] the independence process of [[Namibia]] and maintaining close contacts with [[SWAPO|South West Africa People's Organisation]] (SWAPO).<ref name=kansalli /> In 1977 he was recalled by the [[United Nations]] to succeed [[Seán MacBride]] as [[United Nations Commissioner for Namibia]], a post he held until 1981, and as representative of Secretary-General [[Kurt Waldheim]] from 1978.<ref name=britannica /><ref name=cidob /> 

Following the death of a later UN Commissioner for Namibia, [[Bernt Carlsson]], on [[Pan Am Flight 103]] on 21 December 1988&nbsp;– on the eve of the signing of the [[Tripartite Accord (Angola)|Tripartite Accord]] at [[United Nations Headquarters|UN Headquarters]]&nbsp;– Ahtisaari was sent to [[Namibia]] in April 1989 as the [[Special Representative of the Secretary-General|UN Special Representative]] to head the [[United Nations Transition Assistance Group]] (UNTAG).<ref name=cidob /> Because of the illegal incursion of [[SWAPO]] troops from [[Angola]], the South African appointed Administrator-General (AG), [[Louis Pienaar]], sought Ahtisaari's agreement to the deployment of [[SADF]] troops to stabilize the situation. Ahtisaari took advice from British prime minister [[Margaret Thatcher]], who was visiting the region at the time, and approved the SADF deployment. A period of intense fighting ensued when at least 375 SWAPO insurgents were killed.<ref>[[History of Namibia#Independence|Shaky start on the road to independence]]</ref> In July 1989, [[Glenys Kinnock]] and [[Tessa Blackstone]] of the [[British Council of Churches]] visited Namibia and reported: "There is a widespread feeling that too many concessions were made to South African personnel and preferences and that Martti Ahtisaari was not forceful enough in his dealings with the South Africans."<ref>{{cite book
|title=Namibia: Birth of a Nation
|author=Glenys Kinnock
|publisher=Quartet Books Ltd
|year=1990
|page=19
|author-link=Glenys Kinnock
}}</ref>

Perhaps because of his reluctance to authorise this [[SADF]] deployment, Ahtisaari was alleged to have been targeted by the [[South Africa]]n [[Civil Cooperation Bureau]] (CCB). According to a hearing in September 2000 of the South African [[Truth and Reconciliation Commission (South Africa)|Truth and Reconciliation Commission]], two CCB operatives (Kobus le Roux and Ferdinand Barnard) were tasked not to kill Ahtisaari, but to give him "a good hiding". To carry out the assault, Barnard had planned to use the grip handle of a metal saw as a knuckleduster. In the event, Ahtisaari did not attend the meeting at the Keetmanshoop Hotel, where Le Roux and Barnard lay in wait for him, and thus Ahtisaari escaped injury.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.doj.gov.za./trc/amntrans/2000/200928ct.htm|title=On Resumption: 28th September 2000 – Day 17|access-date=22 May 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080916171009/http://www.doj.gov.za./trc/amntrans/2000/200928ct.htm|archive-date=16 September 2008|url-status=dead}}</ref>

After the independence elections of 1989, Ahtisaari and his wife were made honorary Namibian citizens in 1992.<ref name=kansalli /> South Africa gave him the [[Oliver Tambo|O R Tambo]] award for "his outstanding achievement as a diplomat and commitment to the cause of freedom in Africa and peace in the world".<ref name="tambo">{{Cite web|url=http://www.thepresidency.gov.za/orders_list.asp?show=226|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100719021409/http://www.thepresidency.gov.za/orders_list.asp?show=226|url-status=dead|title=Outstanding achievement award|archive-date=19 July 2010}}</ref>

Ahtisaari served as UN undersecretary-general for administration and management from 1987 to 1991 causing mixed feelings inside the organisation during an internal investigation of massive fraud. When Ahtisaari revealed in 1990 that he had secretly lengthened the grace period allowing UN officials to return misappropriated taxpayer money from the original three months to three years, the investigators were furious. The 340 officials found guilty of fraud were able to return money even after their crime had been proven. The harshest punishment was the firing of twenty corrupt officials.<ref name="Sainio">Sainio, Pentti: Operaatio Ahtisaari. Art House, 1993.</ref><ref>The Independent On Sunday, 1991 May 19.</ref><ref name=cmi>{{cite news |title=About Martti Ahtisaari |url=http://cmi.fi/martti-ahtisaari/about/ |work=CMI |access-date=18 December 2019 |archive-date=20 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200220114735/http://cmi.fi/martti-ahtisaari/about/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=kansalli />

===Other roles===
On 31 July 1991, he was appointed Secretary of State at the [[Ministry for Foreign Affairs (Finland)|Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland]] in the [[Esko Aho]]'s government.<ref name=kansalli /><ref name=cidob /> After the [[Gulf War]], Ahtisaari headed a team tasked with reporting to the UN on changes in the situation and humanitarian needs.<ref name=kansalli /><ref name=cidob /> The report did not meet these expectations and was believed to have eroded American support for Ahtisaari's candidacy for the UN Secretary-General.<ref name=kansalli />

Between 1992 and 1993, Ahtisaari chaired the UN Conference on Yugoslavia's Working Group on Bosnia and Herzegovina and became the special assistant to [[Cyrus Vance]], the Special Envoy of the Secretary-General of the United Nations for Croatia.<ref name=cidob /><ref name=kansalli />

== President of Finland (1994–2000)==
{{See also|1994 Finnish presidential election}}
[[File:Martti-Ahtisaari-1994.jpg|thumb|200px|Ahtisaari holding a press conference during the 1994 presidential election]]
[[File:Finland's president Martti Ahtisaari's inaugural 1994 (JOKAOM13HeV aae-1).tif|thumb|200px|Finland's president [[Mauno Koivisto]] and his successor Martti Ahtisaari in 1994]]
[[File:Martti Ahtisaari in Argentina.jpg|thumb|140px|Ahtisaari in 1997]]
[[File:President Bill Clinton with President Martti Ahtisaari of Finland and President Boris Yeltsin of Russia.jpg|160px|thumb|Ahtisaari with [[Bill Clinton]] and [[Boris Yeltsin]] in 1997]]
[[File:Martti Ahtisaari with Carlos Menem.jpg|160px|thumb|right|Ahtisaari with [[Carlos Menem]] in 1997]]

Finland's ongoing [[recession]] caused established political figures to lose public support, and the [[presidential elections]] were now direct instead of being conducted through an electoral college.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Arter|first=David|date=1994|title=The 1994 Finnish presidential election: Honesty was not the best policy!|journal=West European Politics|volume=17|issue=4|pages=190–192|doi=10.1080/01402389408425049|issn=0140-2382}}</ref><ref name=kansalli /><ref name=cidob /> The [[Social Democratic Party of Finland]]'s candidate to succeed [[Mauno Koivisto]] as President of Finland was decided in a primary between Ahtisaari and former Prime Minister and diplomat [[Kalevi Sorsa]]. Ahtisaari led in the polls against Sorsa, who was already a popular and experienced politician and won the primaries on 16 May 1993 with 61% of the votes.<ref name=cidob /><ref name=kansalli />

After the primaries, Ahtisaari returned to his work in Geneva, and did not start his presidential campaign until the end of October.<ref name=kansalli /> Ahtisaari narrowly won over his second round opponent, [[Elisabeth Rehn]] of the [[Swedish People's Party (Finland)|Swedish People's Party]].<ref name=cidob /> During the campaign, there were rumours spread by some political opponents of Ahtisaari that he had a drinking problem or that he had knowingly accepted a double salary from the Finnish Foreign Ministry and from the United Nations while trying to negotiate an end to the Bosnian War. Ahtisaari denied both allegations and no firm proof of them has emerged.  During the three-week campaign between the two rounds of presidential elections, Ahtisaari was praised by his supporters for being more compassionate towards the many unemployed Finns than Rehn, who as Defence Minister had to officially support the Aho government's strict economic policies. A minor controversy arose during a town hall-style presidential debate in [[Lappeenranta]], southeastern Finland when an apparently born-again Christian woman in the audience asked Rehn what her relationship with Jesus was. Rehn replied that she had personally no proof that Jesus had been a historical person. Ahtisaari ducked a precise answer by stating that he trusted the Lutheran confession even on this issue.<ref name="MMM1995">Mitä Missä Milloin&nbsp;— Kansalaisen vuosikirja 1995 ("What Where When&nbsp;— Citizen's Yearbook 1995"), Helsinki: Otava Publications Ltd., 1994.</ref><ref name="Snellman1994">Anja Snellman and Saska Saarikoski, "The Third Round" / Kolmas kierros, published in Finland in 1994.</ref><ref name="Sainio1993">Pertti Sainio, "Secret Operation Ahtisaari" / Operaatio Salainen Ahtisaari, published in Finland in 1993.</ref> He was sworn in on 1 March 1994.<ref name=cidob />

His term as president began with a schism within the [[Centre Party (Finland)|Centre Party]] government led by prime minister [[Esko Aho]], who did not approve of Ahtisaari's being actively involved in foreign policy. There was also some controversy over Ahtisaari's speaking out on domestic issues such as unemployment. He travelled extensively in Finland and abroad, and was nicknamed "Matka-Mara" (''"Travel-Mara"'', Mara being a common diminutive form of Martti). His monthly travels throughout the country and his meetings with ordinary citizens (the so-called ''maakuntamatkat'' or "provincial trips") nonetheless greatly enhanced his political popularity. Ahtisaari kept his campaign promise to visit one Finnish historical province every month during his presidency.  He also donated some thousands of [[Finnish mark]]s per month to the unemployed people's organisations, and a few thousand Finnish marks to the Christian social organisation of the late lay preacher and social worker [[Veikko Hursti]].<ref>Mitä Missä Milloin&nbsp;— Kansalaisen vuosikirjat 1995, 2000, 2001 ("What Where When&nbsp;— Citizen's Yearbooks 1995, 2000, 2001")</ref><ref>Veikko Hursti, "For I Was Hungry ..." / Sillä minun oli nälkä ... (autobiography), published in Finland in 1997.</ref>

Ahtisaari favoured pluralism and religious tolerance publicly. Privately, he and his wife practised their Christian faith. Contrary to some of his predecessors and his successor as the Finnish President, Ahtisaari ended all of his New Year's speeches by wishing the Finnish people God's blessing.<ref>The speeches are available in electronic form from Finnish Broadcasting Company YLE's Living Archives, {{cite web|url=http://www.yle.fi/elavaarkisto/ |title=Maaseudulta maailmalle -sarja kertoo vuosien 1956–1966 Suomesta |access-date=7 February 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150210035359/http://yle.fi/elavaarkisto/ |archive-date=10 February 2015}}</ref>

In January 1998 Ahtisaari was criticized by some NGOs, politicians and notable cultural figures because he awarded Commander of the [[Order of the Lion of Finland]] to the Forest Minister of [[Indonesia]] and to the main owner of the Indonesian RGM Company, a parent company of the April Company. The April Company was criticized by non-governmental organisations for destroying [[rain forest]]s, and Indonesia itself was criticized heavily for human rights violations, especially in [[East Timor]]. Ahtisaari's party chairman [[Erkki Tuomioja]] said that giving medals was questionable since he feared the act may tarnish the public image of Finnish human rights policy. Students of the arts had demonstrations in Helsinki against the decision to give medals.<ref>''[[Helsingin Sanomat]]'', kotimaa, 1998 January 15, p. 1, "Mielenosoitus: Kunniamerkit takaisin Indonesiasta".</ref><ref>''[[Helsingin Sanomat]]'', Talous, 2000 March 21, p. 3., "Ahtisaari saanee vastaehdokkaan UPM:n hallitus-vaaliin" (tässä jutussa on vain Luontoliiton osuus).</ref>

President Ahtisaari publicly supported Finland's entry into the [[European Union]], and in a 1994 [[referendum]], 57 percent of Finnish voters were in favour of EU membership.<ref name="Turun Sanomat"/><ref name="MMM1996">Mitä Missä Milloin&nbsp;— Kansalaisen vuosikirja 1996 ("What Where When&nbsp;— Citizen's Yearbook 1996"), Helsinki: Otava Publications Ltd., 1995.</ref> He later stated that if Finland had not voted to join the EU he would have resigned.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://yle.fi/uutiset/president_would_have_resigned_if_finland_had_vetoed_eu_membership/7806069|title=President would have resigned if Finland had vetoed EU membership|work=Yle Uutiset|date=14 February 2015|access-date=14 February 2015|archive-date=17 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150217031328/http://yle.fi/uutiset/president_would_have_resigned_if_finland_had_vetoed_eu_membership/7806069|url-status=live}}</ref> The promotion of a European collective security system and Nordic cooperation, as well as a security policy without membership of NATO, were central to Ahtisaari's foreign policy.<ref name=kansalli />

During Ahtisaari's term as president, [[Boris Yeltsin]] and [[Bill Clinton]] met in [[Helsinki]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Huippukokous päättyi yhteisymmärrykseen viidestä turvallisuusjulistuksesta[.] Clinton ja Jeltsin aikovat tiivistää Naton ja Venäjän yhteistyötä[.] Presidentti Clinton lähti illalla kotimatkalle |last=Huhta |first=Kari |work=Helsingin Sanomat |date=22 March 1997 |access-date=23 August 2021 |url=https://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/art-2000003609901.html |language=fi |archive-date=23 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210823034654/https://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/art-2000003609901.html |url-status=live }}</ref> He also negotiated alongside [[Viktor Chernomyrdin]] with [[Slobodan Milošević]] to end the [[Kosovo War|fighting]] in the [[Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|Yugoslav]] province of [[Kosovo]] in 1999.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Huhta |first=Kari |title=Tshernomyrdin yksin Helsingistä Belgradiin |newspaper=Helsingin Sanomat |date=20 May 1999 |access-date=23 August 2021 |url=https://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/art-2000003800968.html |language=fi |page=C1 |archive-date=23 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210823034640/https://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/art-2000003800968.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

Ahtisaari's lack of restrained involvement in public affairs and his pronouncements on domestic and economic policy provoked reservations both in Parliament itself and in the Social Democratic Party of Finland, and led Ahtisaari not to stand for re-election in [[2000 Finnish presidential election|2000]], which was announced in April 1999, and also alleged that two members of the SDP also ran as candidates.<ref name=cidob /><ref name="Turun Sanomat"/> Ahtisaari was the last "strong president", before the [[Constitution of Finland|2000 constitution]] reduced the president's powers. He was succeeded by [[Tarja Halonen]] on 1 March 2000.<ref name=cidob />

== Post-presidential life ==
[[File:Defense.gov News Photo 990617-D-2987S-003.jpg|thumb|Ahtisaari mediating the [[Kosovo War|Kosovo crisis]] with U.S. and Russian defence ministers in 1999]]
[[File:Martti Ahtisaari at the World Economic Forum.jpg|thumb|Martti Ahtisaari at the [[World Economic Forum]] in 2000]]
In Finnish politics, Ahtisaari long stressed how important it is for [[Finland–NATO relations|Finland to join NATO]].<ref>[http://yle.fi/uutiset/news/2008/10/martti_ahtisaari_wants_finland_in_nato_355246.html Martti Ahtisaari Wants Finland in Nato] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120229203753/http://yle.fi/uutiset/news/2008/10/martti_ahtisaari_wants_finland_in_nato_355246.html |date=29 February 2012}}. YLE. 11 October 2008</ref> Ahtisaari argued that Finland should be a full member of NATO and the EU in order "to shrug off once and for all the burden of [[Finlandization]]".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www2.hs.fi/english/archive/news.asp?id=20031215IE6|title=Former President Ahtisaari: NATO membership would put an end to Finlandisation murmurs|work=Helsingin Sanomat|date=15 December 2003|access-date=20 September 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205075236/http://www2.hs.fi/english/archive/news.asp?id=20031215IE6|archive-date=5 December 2008}}</ref> He believed politicians should file application and make Finland a member. He said that the way Finnish politicians avoided expressing their opinions was disturbing.<ref>[http://www.mobioutlet.com/uutiset/arkisto.shtml/arkistot/kotimaa/2003/11/194916 Ahtisaari NATO-kansanäänestystä vastaan] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090723185206/http://www.mobioutlet.com/uutiset/arkisto.shtml/arkistot/kotimaa/2003/11/194916 |date=23 July 2009 }}. MTV3</ref> He also noted that the so-called "NATO option" (acquiring membership if Finland were to be threatened) was an illusion, making an analogy to trying to obtain fire insurance when the fire has already started.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jyu.fi/ajankohtaista/arkisto/2007/11/tiedote-2007-11-23-19-56-06-561120/|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120804194006/http://www.jyu.fi/ajankohtaista/arkisto/2007/11/tiedote-2007-11-23-19-56-06-561120/|url-status=dead|archive-date=4 August 2012|title=Presidentti Martti Ahtisaari 23.11.2007: Nato-optio on illuusio}}</ref> Finland joined NATO on 4 April 2023, while Ahtisaari was still alive.<ref>{{cite web |title=Finland joins NATO as 31st Ally |url=https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_213448.htm |website=nato.int |access-date=5 April 2023 |archive-date=4 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230404142906/https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/news_213448.htm |url-status=live }}</ref>

After leaving office, Ahtisaari held positions in various international organisations. In 2000, he became Chairman of the Brussels-based [[International Crisis Group]],<ref>{{cite news |last1=Barbara Crossette |title=Peace Prize Comes With Criticism |url=https://www.thenation.com/article/peace-prize-comes-criticism/ |access-date=5 April 2019 |work=[[The Nation]] |date=1 December 2008 |quote=After his term as president of Finland ended in 2000, Ahtisaari became board chairman of the International Crisis Group, an independent analysis and advocacy organization based in Brussels. |archive-date=6 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190406182424/https://www.thenation.com/article/peace-prize-comes-criticism/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> an NGO to which he committed $100,000 in government funding in 1994 one month after becoming elected President of Finland.<ref>{{cite book |author1=Stephen Solarz |title=1995–2010 Fifteen Years on the Front Lines – International Crisis Group |date=2010 |publisher=ICG |page=12 |chapter-url=https://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/misc/crisisgroup-15years.ashx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130307075754/https://www.crisisgroup.org/~/media/Files/misc/crisisgroup-15years.ashx |archive-date=7 March 2013 |chapter=Transforming an Idea into Reality |quote=Martti Ahtisaari, had just been elected President of Finland a month earlier. When I explained to Martti what we had in mind, he immediately and graciously offered to provide $100,000 in funding from Finland|author1-link=Stephen Solarz }}</ref> He remained Chairman Emeritus.<ref>{{cite web |title=Board of Trustees |url=https://www.crisisgroup.org/who-we-are/board |website=International Crisis Group |date=22 July 2016 |publisher=ICG |access-date=5 April 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190405175523/https://www.crisisgroup.org/who-we-are/board |archive-date=5 April 2019 |quote=Chairmen Emeriti – Martti Ahtisaari}}</ref>

Ahtisaari also founded the independent [[Crisis Management Initiative]] (CMI) with the goal of developing and sustaining peace in troubled areas. On 1 December 2000, Ahtisaari was awarded the [[Fulbright Program#J. William Fulbright Prize for International Understanding|J. William Fulbright Prize for International Understanding]] by the [[Fulbright Association]] in recognition of his work as a peacemaker in some of the world's most troubled areas. In May 2017 Ahtisaari suggested as new CMI leader [[Alexander Stubb]] a Finnish politician representing Finnish conservatives i.e. the [[National Coalition Party]].<ref>[http://yle.fi/uutiset/3-9603162 Ahtisaari luopuu perustamansa CMI-järjestön puheenjohtajuudesta – ehdottaa seuraajakseen Alexander Stubbia] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170509151400/http://yle.fi/uutiset/3-9603162 |date=9 May 2017 }} YLE 9 May 2017</ref>

In 2000–01, Ahtisaari and [[Cyril Ramaphosa]] inspected [[Provisional Irish Republican Army|IRA]] weapons dumps for the [[Independent International Commission on Decommissioning]], as part of the [[Northern Ireland peace process]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/events/peace/decommission/iicdreports.htm#wi|title=Reports of the Weapons Inspectors|work=Reports and Statements by the Independent International Commission on Decommissioning (IICD)|publisher=[[CAIN]]|access-date=11 October 2008|archive-date=6 December 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101206185315/http://cain.ulst.ac.uk/events/peace/decommission/iicdreports.htm#wi|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2003 Ahtisaari defended [[George W. Bush]]'s [[Iraq war|attack to Iraq]], describing it as humanitarian intervention, which incited criticism from professor of history [[Juha Sihvola]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Oikeutettu Sota? |url=http://arkisto.vihrealanka.fi/2003/33/kolumni.html |date=2003 |access-date=28 October 2015 |website=Vihreä Lanka |language=fi |archive-date=10 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150510062004/http://arkisto.vihrealanka.fi/2003/33/kolumni.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
<!--In 2005, Ahtisaari successfully led peace negotiations between the [[Free Aceh Movement]] (GAM) and the [[Indonesia]]n government through his non-governmental organization CMI. The negotiations ended on 15 August 2005 with the signing of the [https://web.archive.org/web/20130418023930/http://www.aceh-mm.org/download/english/Helsinki%20MoU.pdf Helsinki MOU] on disarmament of GAM rebels, the dropping of GAM demands for an independent [[Aceh]], and a withdrawal of Indonesian forces.-->

[[File:Perjanjian damai helsinki.jpg|thumb|Agreement to end [[insurgency in Aceh]] signed in Helsinki, 2005]]
In November 2005, [[UN Secretary-General]] [[Kofi Annan]] appointed Ahtisaari as Special Envoy for the [[Kosovo status process]] which was to determine whether Kosovo, having been administered by the United Nations since 1999, should become independent or remain a province of [[Serbia]]. In early 2006, Ahtisaari opened the UN Office of the Special Envoy for Kosovo (UNOSEK) in [[Vienna]], Austria, from where he conducted the Kosovo status negotiations. Those opposed to Ahtisaari's settlement proposal, which involved an internationally monitored independence for Kosovo, sought to discredit him. Allegations made by Balkan media sources of corruption and improper conduct by Ahtisaari were described by [[United States Department of State|US State Department]] spokesman Tom Casey as "spurious", adding that Ahtisaari's plan is the "best solution possible" and has the "full endorsement of the United States".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://2001-2009.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2007/jul/88362.htm|title=Daily Press Briefing – July 13|first=Bureau of Public Affairs|last=Department Of State. The Office of Electronic Information|date=13 July 2007|website=2001-2009.state.gov|access-date=25 May 2019|archive-date=3 August 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803213413/https://2001-2009.state.gov/r/pa/prs/dpb/2007/jul/88362.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[The New York Times]]'' suggested that this criticism of Ahtisaari on the part of the Serbs had led to the "bogging down" of the Kosovo status talks.<ref name=NYTimessept>[https://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/02/world/europe/02kosovo.html?ex=1158984000&en=d4d08af1a6c4944b&ei=5070 ''The New York Times''&nbsp;– Serbs Criticize UN Mediator, Further Bogging Down Kosovo Talks] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160104172215/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/02/world/europe/02kosovo.html?ex=1158984000&en=d4d08af1a6c4944b&ei=5070 |date=4 January 2016 }}.</ref> In November 2008, Serbian media reported Pierre Mirel, director of the EU enlargement commission's western Balkans division as saying: "The EU has accepted that the deployment of [[EULEX]] has to be approved by the [[United Nations Security Council]], and that the mission has to be neutral and will not be related to the Ahtisaari plan," Mirel said, following his meeting with Serbia's vice-president [[Bozidar Djelic]].<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.sofiaecho.com/article/eu-accepts-belgrade-s-conditions-for-eulex/id_32852/catid_68
|title=EU accepts Belgrade's conditions for EULEX
|publisher=The Sofia Echo
|date=7 November 2008
|access-date=7 November 2008
|archive-date=12 January 2009
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090112080235/http://www.sofiaecho.com/article/eu-accepts-belgrade-s-conditions-for-eulex/id_32852/catid_68
|url-status=live
}}</ref>

[[File:Ahtisaari, Martti (1937).jpg|thumb|Martti Ahtisaari in 2008]]

In July 2007, however, when the [[European Union|EU]], Russia and the United States agreed to find a new format for the talks, Ahtisaari announced that he regarded his mission as over. Since neither the UN nor the troika had asked him to continue mediations in the face of Russia's persistent refusal to support independence for Kosovo, he said he would nonetheless be willing to take on "a role as consultant", if requested.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,2706414,00.html|title=Contact Group Meets on Kosovo′s Future as Tensions Rise – Europe – DW.COM – 25.07.2007|work=DW.COM|access-date=23 August 2007|archive-date=18 February 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080218033447/http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,2706414,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref> After a period of uncertainty and mounting tension, Kosovo unilaterally declared its independence from Serbia in February 2008.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.voanews.com/english/2008-07-02-voa66.cfm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080803222222/http://www.voanews.com/english/2008-07-02-voa66.cfm|url-status=dead|title=US Pleased With Post-Independence Progress in Kosovo|archive-date=3 August 2008}}</ref>

In his work, he emphasised the importance of the United States in the peace process, stating that "There can be no peace without America."<ref>{{cite book|last=Cord|first=David J.|title=Mohamed 2.0|title-link=Mohamed 2.0: Disruption Manifesto|publisher=[[Schildts & Söderströms]]|year=2012|isbn=978-951-52-2898-7|location=Helsingfors|pages=156}}</ref>

Ahtisaari was chairman of the [[Interpeace]] Governing Council from 2000 to 2009.<ref>John A. Kufuor Foundation [http://johnakufuorfoundation.org/interpeace.html "Interpeace"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111228071829/http://johnakufuorfoundation.org/interpeace.html |date=28 December 2011 }} Retrieved on 27 January 2012</ref><ref>IDRC [https://web.archive.org/web/20151016222900/http://web.idrc.ca/en/ev-131755-201-1-DO_TOPIC.html "IDRC Partner Awarded Nobel Peace Prize"] Retrieved on 3 February 2012</ref><ref>Imagine Nations [http://www.imaginenations.org/bios/martti_ahtisaari.aspx "Martti Ahtisaari"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305220603/http://www.imaginenations.org/bios/martti_ahtisaari.aspx |date=5 March 2012 }} Retrieved on 3 February 2012</ref> 
Beginning in 2009, Ahtisaari was Chairman Emeritus and a Special Advisor.<ref>Interpeace [http://www.interpeace.org/index.php/about-us/governing-council "Governing Council"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150401160743/http://www.interpeace.org/index.php/about-us/governing-council |date=1 April 2015 }} Retrieved on 27 January 2012</ref>

Ahtisaari was board director of the [[ImagineNations Group]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=President Martti Ahtisaari {{!}} Leadership Team |publisher=ImagineNations Group |access-date=23 August 2021 |url=http://www.imaginenations.org/bios/directors/president-martti-ahtisaari |archive-date=23 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210823034703/http://www.imaginenations.org/bios/directors/president-martti-ahtisaari |url-status=live }}</ref>

<!--In 2008 Ahtisaari was awarded an honorary degree by [[University College, London]].--> 
That same year he received the 2007 [[UNESCO]] [[Félix Houphouët-Boigny Peace Prize]], for "his lifetime contribution to world peace".<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.valtioneuvosto.fi/ajankohtaista/tiedotteet/tiedote/en.jsp?toid=2213&c=0&moid=2217&oid=240323|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110610202356/http://www.valtioneuvosto.fi/ajankohtaista/tiedotteet/tiedote/en.jsp?toid=2213&c=0&moid=2217&oid=240323|url-status=dead|title=Valtioneuvosto&nbsp;– Ahtisaari received the UNESCO Peace Prize|archive-date=10 June 2011}}</ref>

In September 2009 Ahtisaari joined [[The Elders (organization)|The Elders]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://theelders.org/article/martti-ahtisaari-joins-elders |title=Martti Ahtisaari joins The Elders |publisher=TheElders.org |date=21 September 2009 |access-date=6 March 2013 |archive-date=24 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180824114554/https://theelders.org/article/martti-ahtisaari-joins-elders |url-status=dead }}</ref> a group of independent global leaders who work together on peace and human rights issues. He travelled to the [[Korean Peninsula]] with fellow Elders [[Gro Harlem Brundtland]], [[Jimmy Carter]] and [[Mary Robinson]] in April 2011,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/04/27/north.korea.elders.visit/index.html |title=Carter, 3 other ex-leaders to push for renewed Koreas talks |publisher=CNN.com |date=27 April 2011 |access-date=6 March 2013 |archive-date=6 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110506084722/http://edition.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/04/27/north.korea.elders.visit/index.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> and to [[South Sudan]] with Robinson and Archbishop [[Desmond Tutu]] in July 2012.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.theelders.org/article/elders-visit-south-sudan-sombre-mood-and-urge-continued-dialogue-khartoum |title=The Elders visit South Sudan in sombre mood and urge continued dialogue with Khartoum |publisher=TheElders.org |date=6 July 2012 |access-date=6 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181118160808/https://www.theelders.org/article/elders-visit-south-sudan-sombre-mood-and-urge-continued-dialogue-khartoum |archive-date=18 November 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

<!--Ahtisaari was a member of the [[Mo Ibrahim Foundation]]'s [[Ibrahim Prize]] Committee.--> 
He was also a member of the board of the [[European Council on Foreign Relations]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ecfr.eu/|title=European Council on Foreign Relations|access-date=19 September 2010|archive-date=14 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150314211756/http://www.ecfr.eu/|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Syria conflict ===
[[File:The Elders (9358747992).jpg|thumb|Ahtisaari (first from left) with [[William Hague]], [[Jimmy Carter]], and [[Lakhdar Brahimi]] from The Elders group in London, 24 July 2013]]
In August 2012, Ahtisaari opined on the sectarian violence in [[Syrian civil war|Syria]]<ref name=yle01/> and was mentioned as a possible replacement as Joint Envoy there to succeed former [[Secretary-General of the United Nations|Secretary-General]] [[Kofi Annan]].<ref>[http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20121017165403/http://ukun.fco.gov.uk/en/news/?view=PressS&id=796877582 "General Assembly adopts Resolution on Syria"], transcript of UK Ambassador Sir [[Mark Lyall Grant]]'s remarks at the 'stakeout' after adoption of the resolution, British UN Mission website, 3 August 2012. Ahtisaari's name only mentioned in a media question. No comment from Grant. Retrieved 3 August 2012.</ref><ref>[http://rendezvous.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/03/whos-crazy-enough-to-take-on-syria/ "'Crazy' Enough to Take on Syria?"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150611020432/http://rendezvous.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/08/03/whos-crazy-enough-to-take-on-syria/ |date=11 June 2015 }}, The New York ''Times'', 3 August 2012. Posted 3 August 2012.</ref> However, Ahtisaari then told the Finnish state broadcaster [[YLE]] that "he wished the mission would fall on someone else"<ref>{{cite news|url=http://yle.fi/uutiset/ahtisaari_syyria-tehtavasta_toivoisin_etta_se_menisi_jonnekin_muualle/6248657|title=Ahtisaari Syyria-tehtävästä: Toivoisin, että se menisi jonnekin muualle|date=8 August 2012|work=YLE Uutiset|language=fi|access-date=11 August 2012|archive-date=9 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120809163658/http://yle.fi/uutiset/ahtisaari_syyria-tehtavasta_toivoisin_etta_se_menisi_jonnekin_muualle/6248657|url-status=live}}</ref> which it ultimately did in the person of [[Lakhdar Brahimi]], a former [[Algeria]]n foreign minister and longtime U.N. diplomat.<ref>[https://archive.today/20130130042618/http://articles.nydailynews.com/2012-08-17/news/33252347_1_syria-envoy-arab-league-envoy-lakhdar-brahimi "UN: Algeria's Brahimi will replace Annan in Syria"], AP via New York ''Daily News'', 17 August 2012. Retrieved 23 August 2012.</ref>

In late 2015, Martti Ahtisaari reiterated charges he already had made in an interview with German broadcaster [[Deutsche Welle]] in early 2013 against members of the [[UN security council]] on the obstruction of a political solution to the escalating conflict in Syria.<ref>[http://www.dw.com/de/ahtisaari-sicherheitsrat-ist-schuld/a-16577293 Ahtisaari: "Sicherheitsrat ist schuld"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160419213528/http://www.dw.com/de/ahtisaari-sicherheitsrat-ist-schuld/a-16577293 |date=19 April 2016 }}, dw.com, 11 February 2013 (in German)</ref> Ahtisaari said in an interview in September 2015 that he held talks about Syria with envoys from the five permanent members of the [[UN security council]] in February 2012. According to Ahtisaari, [[Vitaly Churkin]], Russian ambassador to the [[United Nations]], laid out three points during a meeting with him, which included not arming the Syrian opposition, commencing talks between Syrian president [[Bashar al-Assad|Assad]] and the opposition and finding "an elegant way for Assad to step aside". But the US, Britain and France subsequently ignored the proposal. Ahtisaari said in the interview: "Nothing happened because I think all these, and many others, were convinced that Assad would be thrown out of office in a few weeks so there was no need to do anything."<ref>[https://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/15/west-ignored-russian-offer-in-2012-to-have-syrias-assad-step-aside West 'ignored Russian offer in 2012 to have Syria's Assad step aside'] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161008083307/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/sep/15/west-ignored-russian-offer-in-2012-to-have-syrias-assad-step-aside |date=8 October 2016 }}, theguardian.com, 15 September 2015</ref>

==Personal life, health and death==
[[File:Paavo Lipponen sekä Eeva ja Martti Ahtisaari vaalivalvojaisissa.jpg|thumb|Ahtisaari with his wife [[Eeva Ahtisaari]] (second from left), 1994]]
[[File:Presidentti Ahtisaaren valtiolliset hautajaiset 10.11.2023 - 38.jpg|thumb|[[State funeral of Martti Ahtisaari]]]]
In 1968, he married [[Eeva Ahtisaari|Eeva Irmeli Hyvärinen]],<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.tpk.fi/ahtisaari/fin/henkilot/eeva_ahtisaari.cv.html. | title=Eeva Ahtisaari | access-date=10 October 2008 | archive-date=21 October 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231021110240/https://www.presidentti.fi/ahtisaari/fin/henkilot/eeva_ahtisaari.cv.html | url-status=live }}</ref> who was studying history at the University of Helsinki and whom he met as a child at the Lyceum in Kuopio. They had one son, [[Marko Ahtisaari]], who was born in 1969.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://suomenkuvalehti.fi/kotimaa/ahtisaari/?shared=1102376-57b0a4ba-1|title=Martti Ahtisaarelle rauha oli tahdon asia|work=[[Suomen Kuvalehti]]|first=Katri|last=Merikallio|date=16 October 2023|language=fi|access-date=23 October 2023|archive-date=24 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231024002232/https://suomenkuvalehti.fi/kotimaa/ahtisaari/?shared=1102376-57b0a4ba-1|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 24 March 2020, amid the [[2020 coronavirus pandemic in Europe|large-scale outbreak]] of [[Coronavirus disease 2019|COVID-19]], it was announced that Ahtisaari had tested positive for the disease.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/former_president_martti_ahtisaari_tests_positive_for_coronavirus/11272561|title=Former President Martti Ahtisaari tests positive for coronavirus|publisher=Yle News|date=24 March 2020|access-date=24 March 2020|archive-date=25 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200325065129/https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/former_president_martti_ahtisaari_tests_positive_for_coronavirus/11272561|url-status=live}}</ref> His spouse, Eeva Ahtisaari, was diagnosed with the same virus on 21 March. Eeva Ahtisaari had attended the [[International Women's Day]] concert on 8 March at the [[Helsinki Music Centre]] while infected.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://svenska.yle.fi/artikel/2020/03/21/eeva-ahtisaari-har-smittats-av-coronaviruset|title=Eeva Ahtisaari har smittats av coronaviruset|first=Maria|last=von Kraemer|publisher=Yle Svenska|date=21 March 2020|access-date=24 March 2020|language=sv|archive-date=22 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200322131853/https://svenska.yle.fi/artikel/2020/03/21/eeva-ahtisaari-har-smittats-av-coronaviruset|url-status=live}}</ref> On 14 April 2020 it was announced that Martti and Eeva Ahtisaari were recovering from the coronavirus infection.<ref>Uusitalo, Kaisa: [https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-11304648 Presidenttipari parantumassa koronaviruksesta – Martti ja Eeva Ahtisaaren uusimmat koronavirusnäytteet negatiivisia] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200414215008/https://yle.fi/uutiset/3-11304648 |date=14 April 2020 }}, [[YLE]] 14 April 2020. Accessed on 16 April 2020.</ref>

On 2 September 2021, it was announced that Ahtisaari had [[Alzheimer's disease]] and had retired from public life.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/former_president_ahtisaari_retires_from_public_life_following_alzheimers_diagnosis/12083327|title=Former President Ahtisaari retires from public life following Alzheimer's diagnosis|publisher=Yle News|date=2 September 2021|access-date=2 September 2021|archive-date=2 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210902133709/https://yle.fi/uutiset/osasto/news/former_president_ahtisaari_retires_from_public_life_following_alzheimers_diagnosis/12083327|url-status=live}}</ref> 

Ahtisaari died from complications of Alzheimer's disease in Helsinki, on 16 October 2023, at age 86.<ref>{{Cite news|author=Anne Kauranen|date=16 October 2023|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/finnish-nobel-peace-laureate-ahtisaari-dies-86-2023-10-16/|title=Finnish Nobel Peace laureate and former president Ahtisaari dies at 86|work=Reuters|access-date=16 October 2023|archive-date=16 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231016080243/https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/finnish-nobel-peace-laureate-ahtisaari-dies-86-2023-10-16/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url = https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/16/world/europe/martti-ahtisaari-dead.html|title = Martti Ahtisaari, Finnish Nobel Peace Prize Winner, Dies at 86|last = Cowell|first = Alan|date = 16 October 2023|accessdate = 16 October 2023|newspaper = [[The New York Times]]|url-access = limited|archive-date = 16 October 2023|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20231016140410/https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/16/world/europe/martti-ahtisaari-dead.html|url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Martti Ahtisaari obituary |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/obituaries/article/martti-ahtisaari-obituary-nkpkgnrrx |access-date=18 October 2023 |work=[[The Times]] |date=18 October 2023 |archive-date=19 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231019164120/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/martti-ahtisaari-obituary-nkpkgnrrx |url-status=live }}</ref> [[State funeral of Martti Ahtisaari|His state funeral]] was held on 10 November 2023 in [[Helsinki Cathedral]] at 1 p.m., after which he was buried at the [[Hietaniemi Cemetery]] in Helsinki.<ref name="state-funeral">{{cite web|url=https://valtioneuvosto.fi/en/-/10616/state-funeral-of-president-martti-ahtisaari-to-be-held-in-helsinki-on-st-martin-s-day-10-november|title=State funeral of President Martti Ahtisaari to be held in Helsinki on St Martin's Day, 10 November|publisher=[[Finnish Government]]|date=18 October 2023|access-date=18 October 2023|archive-date=18 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231018092129/https://valtioneuvosto.fi/en/-/10616/state-funeral-of-president-martti-ahtisaari-to-be-held-in-helsinki-on-st-martin-s-day-10-november|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://yle.fi/a/74-20055779|title=Presidentti Ahtisaaren valtiolliset hautajaiset pidetään Martin päivänä 10. marraskuuta|first=Tuomas|last=Hyttinen|work=[[Yle]]|date=18 October 2023|access-date=18 October 2023|language=fi|archive-date=18 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231018073255/https://yle.fi/a/74-20055779|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Honours ==

=== Nobel Peace Prize ===
[[File:Nobel Peace Prize 2008 Martti Ahtisaari.jpg|thumb|Nobel Peace Prize 2008]]
On 10 October 2008, Ahtisaari was announced as that year's recipient of the [[Nobel Peace Prize]]. Ahtisaari received the prize on 10 December 2008 at [[Oslo City Hall]] in Norway.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Nobel Peace Prize Award Ceremony 2008 |url=https://www.nobelprize.org/ceremonies/the-nobel-peace-prize-award-ceremony-2008/ |access-date=24 October 2023 |website=NobelPrize.org |date=June 2013 |language=en-US |archive-date=26 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231026041324/https://www.nobelprize.org/ceremonies/the-nobel-peace-prize-award-ceremony-2008/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Ahtisaari twice worked to find a solution in [[Kosovo]]&nbsp;– first in 1999 and again between 2005 and 2007. The committee said he also worked with others this year to find a peaceful solution to the problems in [[Iraq]]. According to the committee, Ahtisaari and his group, [[Crisis Management Initiative]] (CMI), also contributed to resolving other conflicts in [[Northern Ireland]], [[Central Asia]], and the [[Horn of Africa]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Ahtisaari finally wins his own Nobel Peace Prize|url=http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article2705432.ece|publisher=[[Aftenposten]]|date=10 October 2008|access-date=13 October 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081013034345/http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article2705432.ece|archive-date=13 October 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Nobel Peace Prize goes to peace broker Ahtisaari|url=http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article2704892.ece|publisher=Aftenposten|date=10 October 2008|access-date=13 October 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081010211922/http://www.aftenposten.no/english/local/article2704892.ece|archive-date=10 October 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=The Nobel Peace Prize 2008 awarded to Martti Ahtisaari |url=http://www.norwaypost.no/cgi-bin/norwaypost/imaker?id=201245 |agency=[[Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation]]/TNC |work=The Norway Post|date=10 October 2008 |access-date=13 October 2008 }} {{Dead link|date=September 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> Ahtisaari invited Prime Minister [[Matti Vanhanen]], Foreign Affairs Minister [[Alexander Stubb]] and others to his Nobel event, but not President Halonen.<ref>[http://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/artikkeli/Presidentti+Halosta+ei+kutsuttu+Ahtisaaren+Nobel-juhliin/1135241949683 Presidentti Halosta ei kutsuttu Ahtisaaren Nobel-juhliin]  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121020060350/http://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/artikkeli/Presidentti%2BHalosta%2Bei%2Bkutsuttu%2BAhtisaaren%2BNobel-juhliin/1135241949683 |date=20 October 2012 }}. Helsingin Sanomat</ref>

According to the memoir of the former secretary of the [[Norwegian Nobel Committee]], [[Geir Lundestad]], former Foreign Minister and UN ambassador [[Keijo Korhonen (politician)|Keijo Korhonen]], who was strongly against awarding the 2008 Nobel Peace Prize to Ahtisaari, wrote a letter to the committee which negatively portrayed Ahtisaari as a person and his merits in international conflict zones.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.verkkouutiset.fi/kotimaa/ahtisaari%20lundestad-41035|title=Norjalaiskirja paljastaa: Keijo Korhonen yritti estää Martti Ahtisaaren Nobel-palkinnon|date=18 September 2015|publisher=Verkkouutiset|access-date=18 September 2015|archive-date=20 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150920232031/http://www.verkkouutiset.fi/kotimaa/ahtisaari%20lundestad-41035|url-status=live}}</ref>{{Infobox coat of arms
|name             = Coat of Arms of Martti Ahtisaari
|image            = Martti Ahtisaari Coat of Arms.svg
|alt              = 
|image_width      = 140
|middle           = 
|middle_width     =90
|middle_caption   = 
|lesser           =
|lesser_alt       = 
|lesser_width     =45
|lesser_caption   = Coat of arms 
|image2           = 
|image2_alt       = 
|image2_width     = 
|image2_caption   = 
|image3           = 
|image3_alt       = 
|image3_width     = 
|image3_caption   = 
|armiger          = Martti Ahtisaari
|year_adopted     =1994
|crest            = 
|torse            = 
|shield           = 
|supporters       = 
|compartment      = 
|motto            = ''Se pystyy ken uskaltaa'' ("The one who dares, can")
|orders           = 
|other_elements   = 
|earlier_versions = 
|use              = 
|notes            = 
}}

===National honours===
* {{flag|Finland}}:
**[[File:FIN Order of the White Rose Grand Cross BAR.svg|70px]] Grand Cross with Collar of the [[Order of the White Rose of Finland]] (1999)
**[[File:JPN Hokan-sho blank BAR.svg|70px]] Grand Cross of the [[Order of the Cross of Liberty]]
**[[File:FIN Order of the Lion of Finland 1Class BAR.svg|70px]] Grand Cross of the [[Order of the Lion of Finland]]
**[[File:FIN Saint Henry Cross BAR.svg|70x70px]] [[Saint Henry Cross]]
**[[File:FIN Order of the Holy Lamb BAR.svg|70x70px]] Grand Cross of the [[Order of the Holy Lamb]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Pyhän Karitsan suurristi Ahtisaarelle|newspaper=Helsingin Sanomat|date=22 February 1995|page=A 4|url=https://nakoislehti.hs.fi/b9d42152-fa40-4c06-bbb6-5f78ddf8fd2a/4|language=fi|access-date=17 May 2023|archive-date=17 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230517162627/https://nakoislehti.hs.fi/b9d42152-fa40-4c06-bbb6-5f78ddf8fd2a/4|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Foreign honours===
*{{flag|Albania}}:
**[[File:ALB National Flag Order.png|70px]] [[National Flag Decoration]] (12 September 2016)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Dekorata e flamurit kombëtar|url=https://president.al/en/dekorimet/dekorata-e-flamurit-kombetar-5/|access-date=11 November 2020|website=Presidenti i Republikës së Shqipërisë|language=en-US|archive-date=11 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111114251/https://president.al/en/dekorimet/dekorata-e-flamurit-kombetar-5/|url-status=live}}</ref>
*{{flag|Australia}}:
**[[File:AUS Order of Australia (civil) BAR.svg|70px]] Honorary Officer of the [[Order of Australia]] (2002)
*{{flag|Argentina}}:
**[[File:ARG Order of the Liberator San Martin - Grand Cross BAR.svg|70px]] Grand Cross with Collar of the [[Order of the Liberator General San Martín]] (3 March 1997)<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 March 1997 |title=Menem recibió al primer mandatario de Finlandia |url=https://www.lanacion.com.ar/politica/menem-recibio-al-primer-mandatario-de-finlandia-nid64625/ |access-date=16 October 2023 |website=LA NACION |language=es |archive-date=16 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231016170544/https://www.lanacion.com.ar/politica/menem-recibio-al-primer-mandatario-de-finlandia-nid64625/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* {{Flag|Belgium}}:
**[[File:BEL - Order of Leopold - Grand Cordon bar.svg|70px]] Grand Cordon of the [[Order of Leopold (Belgium)|Order of Leopold]]
* {{Flag|Brazil}}:
**[[File:BRA - Order of the Southern Cross - Grand Cross BAR.svg|70px]] Grand Cross of the [[Order of the Southern Cross]]
*{{flag|Chile}}:
**[[File:CHL Order of Merit of Chile - Grand Cross BAR.svg|70px]] Collar of the [[Order of Merit (Chile)|Order of Merit]]
* {{flag|Denmark}}:
**[[File:Order of the Elephant Ribbon bar.svg|70px]] Knight of the [[Order of the Elephant]] (1994)
**[[File:Order of the Dannebrog R.svg|70px]] Knight of the [[Order of the Dannebrog]]{{cn|date=June 2023}}
*{{flag|Estonia}}:
**[[File:EST Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana - 1st Class BAR.svg|70px]] Collar of the [[Order of the Cross of Terra Mariana]]<ref>Estonian Presidency Website (''Estonian''), Estonian State Decorations, [http://www.president.ee/en/estonia/decorations/bearers.php?id=1 Martti Ahtisaari] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130606061432/http://www.president.ee/en/estonia/decorations/bearers.php?id=1 |date=6 June 2013 }} – [http://www.president.ee/en/estonia/decorations/bearers.php?id=2 Eeva Ahtisaari] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130606180739/http://www.president.ee/en/estonia/decorations/bearers.php?id=2 |date=6 June 2013 }}</ref>
*{{flag|France}}:
**[[File:Legion Honneur GC ribbon.svg|70px]] Grand Cross of the [[Legion of Honour|Order of Legion of Honour]]
*{{flag|Germany}}:
**[[File:GER Bundesverdienstkreuz 9 Sond des Grosskreuzes.svg|70px]] Grand Cross Special Class of the [[Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany]]
* {{Flag|Greece}}:
**[[File:GRE Order Redeemer 1Class.svg|70px]] Grand Cross of the [[Order of the Redeemer]]
*{{flag|Hungary}}:
**[[File:HUN Order of Merit of the Hungarian Rep (civil) 1class BAR.svg|70px]] Grand Cross of the [[Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary]]
* {{Flag|Iceland}}:
**[[File:ISL Icelandic Order of the Falcon - Grand Cross BAR.png|70px]] Collar with Grand Cross of the [[Order of the Falcon]] (26 September 1995)<ref>Icelandic Presidency Website (''Icelandic''), Order of the Falcon, [http://falkadb.forseti.is/orduskra/fal03.php?term=Ahtisaari%2C+&sub=Leita Martti & Eeva Ahtisaari]  {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160313042402/http://falkadb.forseti.is/orduskra/fal03.php?term=Ahtisaari%2C%20&sub=Leita |date=13 March 2016 }}, 26 September 1995, Grand Cross with Collar & Grand Cross respectively</ref> 
* {{Flag|Indonesia}}:
**[[File:Bintang Republik Indonesia Utama Ribbon1.gif|70px]] Third Class of the [[Star of the Republic of Indonesia]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.antaranews.com/print/40353/presiden-anugerahkan-bintang-utama-kepada-ahtisaari|title=Presiden Anugerahkan Bintang Utama Kepada Ahtisaari|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150404113734/http://www.antaranews.com/print/40353/presiden-anugerahkan-bintang-utama-kepada-ahtisaari|archive-date=4 April 2015}}</ref>
* {{flag|Italy}}:
**[[File:Cordone di gran Croce di Gran Cordone OMRI BAR.svg|70px]] Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the [[Order of Merit of the Italian Republic]] (1997)
*{{flag|Kuwait}}:
**[[File:Order of Mubarak the Great (Kuwait) - ribbon bar.gif|70px]] Grand Cordon of the [[Order of Mubarak the Great]]
*{{flag|Latvia}}:
**[[File:LVA Order of the Three Stars - Commander BAR.svg|70px]] Commander Grand Cross of the [[Order of the Three Stars]]:
*{{flag|Lithuania}}
**[[File:LTU Order of Vytautas the Great - Grand Cross BAR.svg|70px]] Grand Cross of the [[Order of Vytautas the Great]] (1996)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Apdovanotų asmenų duomenų bazė |url=https://www.lrp.lt/lt/prezidento-veikla/apdovanojimai/apdovanotu-asmenu-duomenu-baze/27252?sqid=324dedfb248c97cabdd7276c05a297f53c0e3f18 |access-date=16 October 2023 |website=Lietuvos Respublikos Prezidento kanceliarija |language=lt}}</ref>
*{{flag|Malaysia}}:
**[[File:MY Darjah Utama Seri Mahkota Negara (Crown of the Realm) - DMN.svg|70px]] Honorary Recipient of the Most Exalted [[Order of the Crown of the Realm]] (1995)<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.istiadat.gov.my/index.php/component/semakanlantikanskp/|title=Bahagian Istiadat dan Urusetia Persidangan Antarabangsa|website=istiadat.gov.my|access-date=15 June 2016|archive-date=19 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190719195551/http://www.istiadat.gov.my/index.php/component/semakanlantikanskp|url-status=live}}</ref>
*{{flag|Mexico}}:
**[[File:MEX Order of the Aztec Eagle 1Class BAR.png|70px]] Collar of the [[Order of the Aztec Eagle]] (1999)<ref>{{Cite web |title=ACUERDO por el que se otorga al excelentísimo señor Martti Ahtisaari, la Condecoración Orden Mexicana del Aguila Azteca, en grado de Gran Collar. |url=https://dof.gob.mx/nota_detalle.php?codigo=4944072&fecha=19/02/1999#gsc.tab=0 |access-date=16 October 2023 |website=Diario Oficial de la Federación |language=es |archive-date=16 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231016170546/https://dof.gob.mx/nota_detalle.php?codigo=4944072&fecha=19#gsc.tab=0 |url-status=live }}</ref>
*{{flag|Netherlands}}:
**[[File:Order of the Netherlands Lion ribbon - Knight Grand Cross.svg|70px]] Knight Grand Cross of the [[Order of the Netherlands Lion]]
* {{flag|Norway}}:
**[[File:St Olavs Orden storkors stripe.svg|70px]] Grand Cross with Collar of the [[Order of St. Olav]] (1994)
* {{flag|Poland}}:
**[[File:POL Order Orła Białego BAR.svg|70px]] Knight of the [[Order of the White Eagle (Poland)|Order of the White Eagle]] (1997)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pokojowy Nobel dla mistrza mediacji |url=https://www.rp.pl/nauka/art15998321-pokojowy-nobel-dla-mistrza-mediacji |access-date=16 October 2023 |website=Rzeczpospolita |language=pl |archive-date=16 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231016170544/https://www.rp.pl/nauka/art15998321-pokojowy-nobel-dla-mistrza-mediacji |url-status=live }}</ref>
* {{flag|Romania}}:
**[[File:Order of the Star of Romania - Ribbon bar.svg|70px]] Grand Cross of the [[Order of the Star of Romania]]
* {{flag|South Africa}}:
**[[File:Order of the Companions of O.R. Tambo (ribbon bar).gif|70px]] Supreme Companion of the [[Order of the Companions of O. R. Tambo]] (16 June 2004)
**[[File:Ord.GoodHope-ribbon.gif|70px]] Grand Cross of the [[Order of Good Hope]] (1997)<ref name="Nat1997">{{Cite web|url=http://www.info.gov.za/aboutgovt/orders/recipients/1997.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121015131848/http://www.info.gov.za/aboutgovt/orders/recipients/1997.htm|url-status=dead|title=1997 National Orders awards|archive-date=15 October 2012}}</ref>
*{{flag|Spain}}:
**[[File:Order of Isabella the Catholic - Sash of Collar.svg|70px]] Knight of the Collar of the [[Order of Isabella the Catholic]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=BOE-A-1999-2504 Real Decreto 174/1999, de 29 de enero, por el que se concede el Collar de la Orden de Isabel la Católica a su excelencia señor Martti Ahtisaari, Presidente de la República de Finlandia. |url=https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-1999-2504 |access-date=16 October 2023 |website=BOE |archive-date=17 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231017235320/https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-1999-2504 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* {{flag|Sweden}}:
**[[File:Order of the Seraphim - Ribbon bar.svg|70px]] Knight with Collar (1996) of the [[Royal Order of the Seraphim]] (1994)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://img25.imageshack.us/img25/2283/ahtisaariuu8.png |title=Archived copy |access-date=2 October 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131112115519/http://img25.imageshack.us/img25/2283/ahtisaariuu8.png |archive-date=12 November 2013}}</ref>
*{{flag|Turkey}}:
**[[File:Order of the State of Republic of Turkey.png|70px]] First Class of the [[Order of the State of the Republic of Turkey]] (1999)
*{{flag|Ukraine}}:
**[[File:Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise 1st 2nd and 3rd Class of Ukraine.png|70px]] First Class of the [[Order of Yaroslav the Wise]]
* {{Flag|United Arab Emirates}}:
**[[File:Ribbon bar of the Order of the Union (United Arab Emirates).svg|70px]] First Class of the Order of Federation
*{{flag|United Kingdom}}:
**[[File:Order of the Bath UK ribbon.svg|70px]] Honorary Knight Grand Cross of the [[Order of the Bath]] (1995)

== Awards ==
*1995: [[Zamenhof Prize for International Understanding]], of the [[World Esperanto Association]]
*1998: [[Honorary doctorate]] from [[Helsinki University of Technology]],<ref>[http://www.aalto.fi/en/current/tkk_archive/news/view/kunniatohtori_martti_ahtisaarelle_nobelin_rauhanpalkinto/ "TKK Honorary Doctor Martti Ahtisaari to receive Nobel Peace Prize"]{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}, [[Aalto University#History of the schools of science and engineering|Aalto University]] webpage, 13 October 2008. AU is successor to HUT/TKK. Retrieved 8 August 2012.</ref> and from [[National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy]] 
*2000: [[Fulbright Program#J. William Fulbright Prize for International Understanding|J. William Fulbright Prize for International Understanding]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://fulbright.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/2000-Martti-Ahtisaari.pdf|title=Martti Ahtisaari|access-date=23 October 2023|archive-date=21 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231021022243/https://fulbright.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/2000-Martti-Ahtisaari.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
*2000: [[Four Freedoms Award#Freedom Medal|Freedom medal]]<ref>[[Four Freedoms Award#Freedom Medal]]</ref>
*2000: {{Flag|Germany}}: Hessian Peace Prize<ref>[http://www.hsfk.de/Preistraegerinnen-und-Preistraeger-des-Hessischen.863.0.html?&L=1 Laureates of the Hessian Peace Prize] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160217010143/http://www.hsfk.de/Preistraegerinnen-und-Preistraeger-des-Hessischen.863.0.html?&L=1 |date=17 February 2016 }}, hsfk.de</ref><ref>Dead link at [[Crisis Management Initiative]] website: {{cite web|url=http://www.cmi.fi/?content%3Dspeech%26id%3D11 |title=CMI – Martti Ahtisaari Peace Foundation |access-date=10 October 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130509224816/http://www.cmi.fi/?content=speech&id=11 |archive-date=9 May 2013}}.</ref>
*2004: [[Oliver Tambo|OR Tambo Award]]<ref name=tambo />
*2006: Gold Medal of [[The American-Scandinavian Foundation]]<ref name="auto">[http://www.cmi.fi/en/office-of-president-ahtisaari/president-ahtisaari/cv  CV of Martti Ahtisaari] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307133547/http://www.cmi.fi/en/office-of-president-ahtisaari/president-ahtisaari/cv |date=7 March 2016 }}, cmi.fi</ref> 
*2007: {{Flag|Germany}}: Manfred Wörner Medal of the German Ministry of Defense<ref name="auto"/> 
*2007: Honorary degree, [[University of St. Gallen]], Switzerland
*2008: [[Delta Prize for Global Understanding]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://deltachair.uga.edu/the-delta-prize-for-global-understanding/|title=The Delta Prize for Global Understanding|access-date=23 October 2023|archive-date=24 October 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231024002233/https://deltachair.uga.edu/the-delta-prize-for-global-understanding/|url-status=live}}</ref>
*2008: [[Félix Houphouët-Boigny Peace Prize]]<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000187347 |title=Award ceremony of the Félix Houphouët-Boigny Peace Prize, UNESCO, 2 October 2008: address by Mr Martti Ahtisaari, Former President of the Republic of Finland, 2007 Prizewinner |access-date=23 October 2023 |archive-date=24 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231024002237/https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000187347 |url-status=live }}</ref>
*2008: [[Nobel Peace Prize]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/2008/ahtisaari/facts/|title=The Nobel Peace Prize 2008|website=NobelPrize.org|access-date=23 October 2023|archive-date=3 September 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230903011755/https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/2008/ahtisaari/facts/|url-status=live}}</ref>
*2008: {{Flag|Netherlands}}: [[Geuzenpenning]]
*2011: Honorary degree, [[University of Calgary]], Canada

==See also==
* [[List of peace activists]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Wikiquote}}
{{Commons category}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20130616155936/http://www.project-syndicate.org/contributors/contributor_comm.php4?id=689 Martti Ahtisaari's Project Syndicate op/eds]
*{{Nobelprize}}
*[http://nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/peace/laureates/2008/ahtisaari-lecture.html Ahtisaari Nobel Prize lecture]
*[http://finland.fi/public/default.aspx?contentid=160140&contentlan=2&culture=en-US ThisisFINLAND -Nobel recognition rewards peaceful resolutions]
* {{C-SPAN|38018}}
* [https://suomenpresidentit.fi/ahtisaari/?lang=en Martti Ahtisaari] in The Presidents of Finland

{{s-start}}
{{s-off}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Mauno Koivisto]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[President of Finland]]|years=1994–2000}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Tarja Halonen]]}}
{{s-ach}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Al Gore]]|before2=[[Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Laureate of the [[Nobel Peace Prize]]|years=2008}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Barack Obama]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Finnish Presidents}}
{{Nobel Peace Prize Laureates 2001-2025}}
{{2008 Nobel Prize Winners}}
{{The Elders}}

{{Authority control}}

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[[Category:Martti Ahtisaari| ]]
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