The Nobel Prizes are awarded on the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death. The Nobel Prizes for Medicine, Physics, Chemistry, Literature and Economics are awarded in Stockholm, while the Peace Prize is presented in Oslo, in accordance with Alfred Nobel’s wishes. This year, the Peace Prize was given to Finland’s former president, Martti Ahtisaari (71).
Nobel Peace Prize laureate for 2008, Martti Ahtisaari. Photo: Petter Foss
The Norwegian Nobel Committee awards the Peace Prize to Martti Ahtisaari for his international peace efforts on several continents over a period spanning more than three decades. In its announcement of this year’s award, the Nobel Committee particularly emphasised Mr Ahtisaari’s role in the negotiations leading to Namibia’s independence in 1990, and the central role he and his organisation CMI played in solving the complicated Aceh question in Indonesia in 2005. During the last decade Mr Ahtisaari has also sought to find a solution to the conflict in Kosovo, and a peaceful conclusion to the problems in Iraq.
Leader of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, Ole Danbolt Mjøs, presented the prize to Martti Ahtisaari. Photo: Petter Foss
The leader of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, Ole Danbolt Mjøs, presented Mr Ahtisaari with the Peace Prize diploma and gold medal. It is estimated that there was media coverage of the prize award ceremony in over 100 countries. With such a unique opportunity to convey his message to large parts of the world, the Nobel laureate used his lecture to urge everyone to work for a solution to ongoing conflicts, including those in the Middle East.
Martti Ahtisaari gave a rousing Nobel Lecture. Photo: Petter Foss
“All conflicts can be resolved. Peace is a question of will,” Mr Ahtisaari stressed.
After the prize award ceremony, there was a torchlight procession through the streets of Oslo to mark the prize, followed by a banquet at the Grand Hotel. The festivities culminated the next day with the traditional Nobel Peace Prize Concert, hosted by the actors Scarlett Johansson and Sir Michael Caine.