Finland’s former president Martti Ahtisaari has won the Nobel Peace Prize for a long career of peace mediation work. The announcement was made earlier today.

Nobel Committee: “The Norwegian Nobel Committee has decided to award the Nobel Peace Prize for 2008 to Martti Ahtisaari for his important efforts, on several continents and over more than three decades, to resolve international conflicts.”

In 2005, Martti Ahtisaari helped secure an accord between Indonesia and rebels in Aceh. In 1990, he played a key role in securing Namibia’s independence from South Africa. Until March 2007, he mediated Serb-Albanian talks on Kosovo as the UN’s special envoy. This is Martti Ahtisaari speaking in 2005 after a peace deal was signed between Indonesia and the Free Aceh Movement.

Martti Ahtisaari: “This achievement has only been possible with the commitment of the parties to find a peaceful, comprehensive and sustainable solution to the conflict in Aceh with dignity for all. The purpose of this peace process has been to give a new start for the people of Aceh to live their lives in peaceful, just and democratic society.”