CMI’s latest Martti Ahtisaari Legacy seminar, held at the United Nations, sees calls for renewed commitment to multilateralism amid growing strains on international cooperation. While paying tribute to President Ahtisaari, speakers agree that his principles should be a guide for future action.
On 3 April 2025, CMI – Martti Ahtisaari Peace Foundation – hosted a high-level seminar at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. The broadcast event was part of the Martti Ahtisaari Legacy Seminar series, established to reflect on the late President’s contribution to global peace and diplomacy.
Keynote speakers Sanna Marin and Juan Manuel Santos in conversation with International Crisis Group’s Comfort Ero. Photograph by Agaton Strom.
Organised in collaboration with the International Crisis Group and the Permanent Missions of Finland and Namibia to the UN, the seminar gathered global leaders and peacebuilding experts to discuss the future of multilateralism and mediation in today’s changing world.
The purpose of the seminar was to honour the life and work of Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari, while also examining how his legacy can help address contemporary global challenges. In this 25th anniversary year of CMI, each event in the series is held in a location significant to Ahtisaari’s career in peacemaking. The United Nations Headquarters in New York, as a symbol of multilateral diplomacy, served as a fitting backdrop. President Ahtisaari dedicated decades of service to the UN.
Key speakers included former Colombian President, Nobel Laureate and Chair of The Elders Juan Manuel Santos, former Finnish Prime Minister Sanna Marin, and distinguished representatives from international diplomacy and peacebuilding, such as Ambassador Dr Martin Kimani, Rina Amiri, Dr Chester A. Crocker, and Jeffrey Feltman. The event also welcomed UN Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Support Elizabeth Spehar as a speaker as well as other senior UN and diplomatic representatives.
Panellists discuss how to strengthen diplomacy and international cooperation. Photograph by Agaton Strom.
Ahtisaari was remembered as a principled yet pragmatic mediator who believed strongly in the UN system and multilateral cooperation. He approached mediation with humility, teamwork, and an unwavering belief that all conflicts can be resolved through dialogue. His emphasis on inclusive processes and treating all parties with respect remains a foundation for sustainable peace and is a guiding light for CMI’s work.
Speakers at the seminar agreed that Ahtisaari’s legacy is more relevant than ever. As multilateralism faces growing strain, erosion of trust, and more interest-driven foreign policy, there is an urgent need to renew the commitment to cooperation. The seminar raised pressing questions: What does the changing nature of international politics mean for the future of peace mediation? How can global actors restore accountability and effectiveness in peacemaking?
Elizabeth Spehar, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Peacebuilding Support. Photograph by Agaton Strom.
The message from the discussions was clear. Peacemaking must address not only the absence of conflict but also the structures that support lasting peace. Mediation must be inclusive, locally owned, and sustained beyond initial agreements. Strong multilateral institutions remain essential, but they must be adapted to respond to current realities. Reform, rather than retreat, was seen as the necessary path forward.
Speakers emphasised that this is a pivotal moment. Global fragmentation should not lead to isolation, but rather to a renewed commitment to dialogue and collective action. The seminar served both as a tribute to Ahtisaari and as a call to carry his principles into the future. As the series continues and culminates in Helsinki later this year for CMI’s 25th anniversary, the underlying conclusion is that while the world may be in disorder, peace is still possible – if pursued with patience, integrity, and shared resolve.