Martti Ahtisaari

Religions themselves are... peace-loving. They can also be a constructive force in peace-building, and this also applies to the Middle East.

The task of the mediator is to help the parties to open difficult issues and nudge them forward in the peace process. The mediator's role combines those of a ship's pilot, consulting medical doctor, midwife and teacher.

I have no superhuman powers. If people don't want to make peace, there is nothing I can do.

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

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.

I saw an advertisement to work for a Swedish institute in Karachi in Pakistan. I had just been offered a permanent assignment, teaching in Oulu. But I felt, 'My God, I am not going to stay here forever.' You know why? Because I was following international events.

The mere fact that I'm former head of state and former under-secretary in the U.N. system, it means that I can get in touch with anybody in the world, in theory.

I'm concerned when certain movements or countries have been isolated from the international dialogue because then you have no way of influencing them.

Perhaps it's a curse, but when you are a Lutheran, you have a sense of responsibility.