By Elizabeth Willoughby on
At the Nobel Peace Concert that Scarlett Johansson and Michael Caine hosted in Oslo, Norway, earlier this month, former Finnish president Martti Ahtisaari’s ‘mediation as a means to ending conflict and solving world problems’ was celebrated.
Ahtisaari, who received the 2008 Nobel Peace Prize at an award ceremony the day before, was honored for his many accomplishments in conflict areas across the globe. These include his work towards achieving independence for Namibia and for his peace-making efforts in Kosovo, Indonesia, Northern Ireland, Central Asia, the Horn of Africa and, most recently, Iraq.
Pleased to have won the prize, Ahtisaari hopes that it will help his Crisis Management Initiative (CMI) organization to promote peace and security around the world.
“The prize will make it easier to finance the organization,” he told Norwegian Broadcasting, “which in turn will make it easier for us to work.”
Norwegian Nobel Committee leader Ole Danbolt Mjøs said, “Through [Martti Ahtisaari’s] untiring efforts and good results, he has shown what role mediation of various kinds can play in the resolution of international conflicts. The Norwegian Nobel Committee wishes to express the hope that others may be inspired by his efforts and his achievements.”
Eager to share that message at the Nobel Peace Concert, Johansson said, “It is important to remind young people that peace is the only real victory.”
Diana Ross, Feist and Dierks Bentley were among the performers at the concert.
Copyright © 2008 Look to the Stars
