President Ahtisaari and CMI’s ED: Peace mediation is a cost-effective way to resolve the world’s conflicts

– Without stability and peace there can be no development. If there is no peace in a society we cannot build schools or hospitals, let alone promote economic growth, say President Martti Ahtisaari and CMI’s executive director Tuija Talvitie in an op-ed published today in Helsingin Sanomat, Finland’s largest daily newspaper.

Research tells us that military means can end the violence but they do not bring peace. Peace can only be fostered through negotiations and political solutions.

– A stable society is a pre-requisite for development aid to be effective. In helping to solve conflicts in Syria, Iraq, Libya or South Sudan we lessen the influx of refugees and prevent terrorism, which currently pose a threat to broader international security, president Ahtisaari and Tuija Talvitie write.  

Resolving conflicts with peaceful means is very cost-effective. Ending violence through military means costs billions of euros while the fee for successful peace mediation and negotiations rarely tops a million euros.

– Preventing and resolving conflicts is Finnish excellence that could also be exported. Prioritising peace mediation during a time of limited resources would be a politically and economically wise decision for Finland at the moment, the authors conclude.

The op-ed in Finnish is available here: http://www.hs.fi/paakirjoitukset/a1433993450702