In The News

Peacemaker Harri Holkeri passes away

Peacemaker Harri Holkeri passes away

TRIBUTES HAVE been paid to Harri Holkeri who played a key role in the Northern Ireland peace process and who has died aged 74.

Mr. Holkeri became Finland’s first conservative prime minister since the Second World War when he was elected in 1987.

He demonstrated his great powers as a mediator during his five years in power.

It was his work with former U.S. Senator George Mitchell and Canadian general John de Chastelain that resulted in a major development in the Northern Ireland peace process.

They had overseen the multi-party talks process which led to the Good Friday agreement of 1998.

He was awarded an honorary knighthood by the Queen for his work in Northern Ireland.

In 2003 Mr. Holkeri turned his peacemaking skills to the problem in the Serbian province of Kosovo where be became a UN special representative. But his contribution was to be unsuccessful and he was forced to withdraw after less than a year because of ill health.

In 2008 Mr. Holkeri was badly injured when he was knocked over in a Helsinki street by a thief who was running from a store. He never fully recovered from the experience.

Mr. Holkeri is survived by his wife and their son and daughter.

 

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