Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has written to Prime Minister of the Republic of Finland Petteri Orpo on the passing of former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari. The text of the letter is appended.
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MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS
SINGAPORE
23 OCTOBER 2023
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20 October 2023
Dear Prime Minister Orpo,
I was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of former President Martti Ahtisaari.
As the first popularly elected President of Finland, Mr Ahtisaari demonstrated his steadfast leadership and political acumen as he led Finland through some of its toughest times, and to Finland’s accession into the EU. I had the honour of meeting him during his State Visit to Singapore in 1995 – the first by a Finnish President – and benefitted greatly from Mr Ahtisaari’s sharing of his insights into the geopolitical developments around the world.
Mr Ahtisaari was a well-respected international statesman. His firm belief that ‘every conflict could be solved’ is especially relevant for the tumultuous times we find ourselves in today. He contributed to the resolution of conflicts in different continents over several decades and was deservedly conferred the Nobel Peace Prize in 2008. Mr Ahtisaari continues to inspire through the Crisis Mediation Initiative that he set up and his passing will be deeply felt throughout the world.
My thoughts are with the Finnish people and Mr Ahtisaari’s family during this difficult time.
Yours Sincerely,
LEE HSIEN LOONG
His Excellency Petteri Orpo
Prime Minister
Republic of Finland