The State Funeral of Former President Martti Ahtisaari Takes Place Today: Here’s How to Observe
The state funeral of former President Ahtisaari will begin with the funeral service at the Helsinki Cathedral. President Ahtisaari will be buried in Hietaniemi Cemetery next to other former Finnish presidents.
More than 800 invited guests are expected to attend the state funeral of former Finnish President Martti Ahtisaari in Helsinki on Friday, November 10. In addition to state protocol, the invited guests will reflect former President Ahtisaari’s decades-long international career.
King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden will honor the memory of former President Ahtisaari with his presence. President of Kosovo Vjosa Osmani, President of Namibia Hage Geingob and former President of Tanzania Jakaya Kikwete will also be present.
In addition, former President of Ireland and Chair of The Elders Mary Robinson will attend Ahtisaari’s funeral. Nearly 800 guests are expected to attend the funeral, including some 30 from abroad.
Guests have been invited to the state funeral in accordance with state protocol and the wishes of Ahtisaari’s family. The highest state authorities of Finland will honor the memory of former President Ahtisaari with their presence on Friday.
The state funeral of former President Ahtisaari will begin with the funeral service at the Helsinki Cathedral at 13:00. Retired generals and admirals will serve as pallbearers at the Cathedral.
After the service, the funeral cortege will leave the Helsinki Cathedral at approximately 14:45. The cortege will be led by the Mounted Police in a motorcade from Helsinki Cathedral to Hietaniemi Cemetery, stopping for one minute in front of the Presidential Palace.
The public is invited to watch the procession along the following route: Unioninkatu, Aleksanterinkatu (towards Meritullintori, around the Main Guard Building), Pohjoisesplanadi, Unioninkatu (around the Presidential Palace), Aleksanterinkatu, Mannerheimintie, Arkadiankatu, Pohjoinen Rautatiekatu, Mechelininkatu and through Hietaniemi Cemetery from the gate to the New Chapel along the main promenade.
President Ahtisaari will be buried in Hietaniemi Cemetery in the same area as Presidents Mauno Koivisto, Urho Kekkonen and Risto Ryti. Pallbearers at the Hietaniemi cemetery will be former President Ahtisaari’s son Marko Ahtisaari and Ahtisaari’s former aides.
The funeral will begin at 15:45 and will last half an hour. The funeral will be attended by former President Ahtisaari’s closest relatives and the highest state authorities.
Following the funeral, a memorial service for former President Ahtisaari will be held at the Government Banquet Hall for about 300 invited guests. Prime Minister Petteri Orpo will deliver a eulogy at the ceremony, which will begin at 16:30.
Former President Martti Ahtisaari died on Monday, October 16, in Helsinki. He was 86 years old. Mr. Ahtisaari served as President of the Republic of Finland from 1994 to 2000.
Source: finlandtoday.fi
