The origins of my career as a peace mediator can be found from my childhood years. I was born in the city of Viipuri, then still part of Finland. We lost Viipuri when the Soviet Union attacked my country. Along with 400,000 fellow Karelians, I became an eternally displaced person in the rest of Finland.

We are convinced that Turkey would be a useful member of the European Union.

With my mother, I moved from one household to another before settling in the eastern part of Finland, in the city of Kuopio.

Martti Ahtisaari Quotes