This year's first event, the visit of 2008 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate H.E. Martti Ahtisaari, took place on 16th and 17th of January 2009 in Izmir, Turkey.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee's announcement on the 10th of October of this year's Peace Prize award began as follows: "The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided that the Nobel Peace Prize for 2008 to Martti Ahtisaari for his important efforts, on several continents and over more than three decades, to resolve international conflicts. These efforts have contributed to a more peaceful world and to 'fraternity between nations' in Alfred Nobel's spirit."


Throughout all his adult life, whether as a senior Finnish public servant and President or in an international capacity, often connected to the United Nations, Ahtisaari has worked for peace and reconciliation. For the past twenty years, he has figured prominently in endeavours to resolve several serious and long-lasting conflicts. In 1989-90 he played a significant part in the establishment of Namibia's independence; in 2005 he and his organization Crisis Management Initiative (CMI) were central to the solution of the complicated Aceh question in Indonesia.

In 1999 and again in 2005-07, he sought under especially difficult circumstances to find a solution to the conflict in Kosovo. In 2008, through the CMI and in cooperation with other institutions, Ahtisaari has tried to help find a peaceful conclusion to the problems in Iraq. He has also made constructive contributions to the resolution of conflicts in Northern Ireland, in Central Asia, and on the Horn of Africa.

During the diner given for the honour of his Nobel Peace Price, Ahtisaari addressed the guests about world peace and his work.

H.E. Mr. Ahtisaari started his speech with the following statement:

"I am seriously concerned about the large number of conflicts that the international  community has not been able to solve. We should never accept that some conflicts remain frozen for ever. Each conflict has to be seen as a vital challenge requiring immediate attention from the international community. Conflicts in the Middle East, Cyprus, Sri Lanka, Kashmir, Burma / Myanmar, Somalia and Darfur are affecting the credibility of the international community. These conflicts have led to widespread devastation and regional instability, as well as large numbers of refugees. The international community remains unable to prevent the outbreak of war and the scope of action of many organizations is confined to limiting the negative effects of violence. We all know that solving these conflicts is central. The credibility of the West is badly eroded because we have allowed these conflicts to become frozen and not tried seriously enough to solve them."

H.E. Ahtisaari also gave detailed information about his contribution in persuading Slobodan Milosovic to stop the military operation in Kosovo and his solution for creating a independency system for Kosovo.

After Mr. Ahtisaari's speech, Izmir Chamber of Commerce President of the Executive Board, Mr. Ekrem Demirtaş, thanked the Institute for European Affairs and Mr. Şarık Tara for supporting the organization of this event.


To read H.E. Martti Ahtisaari's speech, click here