Ahtisaari Days: Conflict resolution through negotiating

The nation-wide Ahtisaari Days will be celebrated starting on 9 November 2015. This annual peace mediation event is now organised for the fifth time. This year, the main events will take place in Rovaniemi.

The theme of reconciliation has become increasingly topical in today’s world, where prolonged wars and violence have brought about record-high numbers of refugees. Yet conflicts cannot be resolved by waging wars, but through peaceful negotiation. Conflicts that are man-made can also be solved by people.

The purpose of the Ahtisaari Days is to raise awareness on mediation at all levels of society. The aim is to make peace work and mediation part of everyone’s daily life by discussing the theme in schools, at public events and among experts. These topics are central to the work of the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, and Finland has major knowhow to offer in this field.

This year, the main events will be held in Rovaniemi, on 12 November 2015. The theme for the public event taking place at the University of Lapland will be “Nordic minorities”. Participants to the debate include Professor Veli-Pekka Lehtola (University of Oulu), University Lecturer Aini Linjakumpu (University of Lapland), Professor Vesa Puuronen (University of Oulu) and researcher Nafisa Yeasmin (University of Lapland). President Ahtisaari himself will conclude the discussion with his own observations.

Schools are at the focus of the Ahtisaari Days. Each school may decide in what way and to what extent it will take part the event. Some ideas and materials relating to the Ahtisaari Days can be found at http://ahtisaaripaivat.fi/kouluille/ideoita-ja-materiaaleja/.

President Ahtisaari and the Crisis Management Initiative (CMI) Ambassadors are going to visit schools in Rovaniemi on 12 November. Two of the three government ministers working for the Ministry for Foreign Affairs will also take part in the Ahtisaari Days in the Greater Helsinki area: Foreign Minister Timo Soini will visit Kallahti Primary School in Helsinki, and Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Lenita Toivakka will make a visit to Saarnilaakso Primary School in Espoo on 9 November 2015.

The Ahtisaari Days have previously taken place in Oulu, Helsinki, Kuopio and Turku. The city hosting the 2016 Ahtisaari Days will be announced in Rovaniemi. The responsible organiser for the Ahtisaari Days is CMI.

Further information: Mari Lankinen, Content and Communications Specialist, tel. 0295 350642.

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