Former Finnish president in Aceh to monitor progress

Former Finnish president and initiator of the MoU between the Indonesian government and the Free Aceh Movement (GAM) Martti Ahtisaari arrived in Aceh on Thursday to monitor the peace progress in the westernmost province.

Antara state news agency has reported that the 2008 Nobel Peace Prize winner held a closed meeting with the provincial governor Irwandi Yusuf and some high-ranking officials at the gubernatorial office.

He is scheduled to meet with Aceh residents to get feedback on current security conditions in the area tomorrow.

On the same day, he will talk with representatives from the World Bank and the European Union before heading back to Jakarta in the afternoon.

Ahtisaari played a major role in mediating the peace agreement between the country and the separatist movement on August 15, 2006 in Helsinki.

As well as in this country, Ahtisaari has been tasked with similar roles in several African, European, Asian and Middle Eastern countries. (ewd)