Former Finnish president underlines respects by international players

Martti Ahtisaari, former Finnish president and winner of the 2008 Nobel Peace Prize, has underlined the need for keeping communications open on the international arena and avoiding insulting other sides.

In an interview with Finnish national broadcaster Yle, Ahtisaari mentioned what he described as "the problems arisen from these French cartoons," and said that he could not defend those who make such cartoons with a commercial purpose.

The interview was published just as a gunman reportedly killed a man and wounded three others at a cultural center in Danish capital city of Copenhagen on Saturday.

The Danish police said they suspected the shooting was against Lars Vilks, who attended a seminar at the cultural center and had aroused anger in religious circles with a drawing of Prophet Mohammed as a dog.

Commenting on the cease fire reached in Ukraine, Ahtisaari said one of the major issues is what kind of autonomy the Ukrainian central government is willing to give the eastern areas.

Ahtisaari said Finland has always been able to talk with all countries, and such attitude should be chosen by international players and could help reaching the goals aimed at.

Ahtisaari said he continues endorsing Finnish membership in NATO as he did during his presidency (1994-2000).

He said Russia is not a threat to Finland but as a NATO member Finland could possibly better compete about international investments that now go to the Baltic countries. Endit