University of Oulu representatives attend the 25th anniversary seminar of the CMI - Martti Ahtisaari Peace Foundation: “Rebooting Peace”

The high-level event brought together distinguished guests, long-time partners, and friends of CMI from around the world. The evening focused on the evolving role of dialogue and mediation in addressing today’s complex conflicts, while also highlighting the enduring potential of inclusive dialogue and principled mediation to foster understanding, prevent violence, and build sustainable peace.

President Alexander Stubb opened the evening with reflections on the current challenges of peacemaking, explicitly referencing Russia’s war of aggression in Ukraine. He noted that “the reality is that peace can be good, bad, or some kind of compromise”, highlighting the difficult choices societies face and the importance of preparing for moments when peace becomes achievable.

The seminar continued with insights from prominent international speakers, including H.R.H. Prince El Hassan bin Talal of Jordan, Mary Robinson, Former President of Ireland, former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and member of The Elders, Ambassador Liberata Mulamula, Special Envoy of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission on Women, Peace and Security, and former Foreign Minister of Tanzania, and Fawzia Koofi, former First Woman Deputy Speaker of the Afghan Parliament and President of Women for Afghanistan. Each speaker offered unique insights into the global state of peacebuilding, the challenges to inclusive dialogue, and the importance of sustained international cooperation.