It is with great sadness Malaysia receives word about the demise of President H.E Mr. Martti Ahtisaari, Finland’s distinguished 10th President of the Republic and Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Malaysia will always fondly remember him as the first Finnish Head of State ever to visit Malaysia in 1995, a fact which which is part of the great historical significance in our 50th Anniversary of Bilateral Relations between Malaysia-Finland.
We will always remember his gesture of emphasising Finland’s understanding and ever-increasing realisation of the importance and stature of Malaysia in regional and global affairs.
His efforts in extending our hand in a gesture of friendship at a time Finland had just joined the European Union then has in many ways clarified Finland’s international position and approach to the world. Under his guidance, Finland has and continues to work constructively together with the EU in promoting policies of international peace and security, trade liberalisation, and economic prosperity over the years.
In a time when local and regional conflicts are still abound, Mr. Ahtisaari’s spirit in ensuring that the full attention of the international community on the challenges in the region continues to live on in today’s multipolar world.
Just like Malaysia, Finland has not shied away from its international obligations and we will forever be appreciative of his personal efforts as well of the efforts of Finland in UN peacekeeping operations training of Malaysian peacekeepers here in the mid 90’s.
May his departed soul rest in peace and may his tenacity & spirit live on
