Martti Ahtisaari Wins The 2008 Nobel Peace Prize

From the First Mediation Blog of Jeff Krivis and Mariam Zadeh.

(AP Photo / LEHTIKUVA, Markku Ulander)

OSLO, Norway (Oct. 10, 2008)—Finland’s ex-president Martti Ahtisaari won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for his long career of peace mediation work including a 2005 accord between Indonesia and rebels in its Aceh province and his efforts to build a lasting peace from Africa and Asia to Europe and the Middle East.

The Norwegian Nobel Committee chose Ahtisaari to receive the $1.4 million prize from a field of 197 candidates ”for his important efforts, on several continents and over more than three decades, to resolve international conflicts.”

Adam Smith, Editor-in-Chief of Nobelprize.org conducted a telephone interview with Martti Ahtisaari today, just three hours after the announcement of the 2008 Nobel Peace Prize. In the interview Ahtisaari states,

“… it’s a disgrace for the international community that we have allowed so many conflicts to become frozen, and we are not making a serious effort to solve them.” 

The audio recording as well as a transcription of the full interview can be found at Nobelprize.org

                       

Jeffrey Krivis

Improvisational Negotiation. This phrase summarizes Krivis’ philosophy for a successful and dynamic mediated negotiation. A successful mediation needs both keen legal insight gained from years of litigation experience and cannot be scripted. Exploring this idea with further study led Krivis to venture on the stage as a stand-up comedian. Ultimately,… MORE >

                       

Mariam Zadeh

Mariam Zadeh was an active trial lawyer in New York City until September 11, 2001, at which time her life was dramatically changed. She moved to Los Angeles, obtained her L.L.M. in Alternative Dispute Resolution from the Straus Institute for Dispute Resolution at Pepperdine University, and became a partner with… MORE >