Ahtisaari: Employment of the youth is a global priority
President Martti Ahtisaari considers employment of the young as a global priority. ”Young people must have options for crime and terrorism,” Ahtisaari said to Finnish opinion leaders in an event organised by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
According to President Ahtisaari, countries in Latin America have followed through an number of successful youth employment programmes. He also told having urged Secretary General of the UN to make a proposal for promoting youth employment.
”Youth programmes and preventive action are cheaper than mending of ruined lives.”
Ahtisaari, the Nobel peace prize laureate of 2008, is not pleased with the immigration policies in the European countries. ”Not a single country can take credit for a successful policy. Nevertheless, we cannot do without foreign workers.”
The EU is capable of assisting the US in the Middle East peace process
President Ahtisaari also discussed another familiar theme: the conflict in the Middle East. According to Ahtisaari, solving the conflict should be prioritized over all the other conflicts in the world.
”The conflict in the Middle East is affecting the relations between Islam and the West.”
When asked about it, President Ahtisaari strictly denies willingness of taking the lead in the Middle East peace process, in spite of his experience. According to Ahtisaari, the conflict must be solved with the United States in the lead, and the EU is capable of assisting in the process.
”It is for the better, if the peace process is mediated by the Quartet.”
Ahtisaari names reluctance of the Palestinians to act as a united front as a hindrance to the peace process.
Some participants in the event had also attended the Foreign Ministry's Development Policy Programme for Finnish Opinion leaders and Decision-Makers and were, therefore, interested in Ahtisaari's opinions on development cooperation. His views were clear.
”I would use the majority of EU development cooperation funds for bringing foreign students to Europe. Most of exchange students from developing countries return to their homeland. The years spent in another kind of environment must have an impact on them.”
Ahtisaari also said that allocating development cooperation funds for students would also support our universities. A former teacher can appreciate the value of offering opportunities for getting an education.
”Education is an endless field that could be funded extensively.”
Development cooperation must be based on an equal partnership
Ahtisaari believes that the economic crisis will not influence on development cooperation except for the rules, which will become stricter, and more careful allocation of funds. He stresses the importance of partnership in development cooperation.
”Countries should act as equals. Development cooperation should be a life-time project.”
Ahtisaari mentions Namibia as an example of socially successful development cooperation. Many of the local ministers have attended mission schools. President Ahtisaari also looked back to his work at the Foreign Ministry in the 1960's, when nothing was more important in development cooperation than Nordic cooperation.
Introduction to development cooperation for opinion leaders and decision-makers
President Ahtisaari met with Finnish opinion leaders from the industry and commerce, politics, non-governmental organisations, the media, and government agencies in an event that was organised as a part of the Foreign Ministry's Development Policy Programme for Finnish Opinion leaders and Decision-Makers.
The participants for the programme attend seminars on development issues in Finland and visit one of Finland's long-term cooperation countries to get an idea of development cooperation in practice. This year, the group will be visiting Kenya.