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The Åland example attracts many visitors who come to study the Ålandic autonomy as well as the demilitarisation and neutralisation of the archipelago in more depth. The so-called Contact Group, which consists of representatives of the Åland government and the Finnish Foreign Ministry, works to promote the application of the Åland example in international contexts. The Åland government as well as the Åland Islands Peace Institute frequently host visitors from all over the world, among them journalists, civil servants, students, youth groups and representatives of civil society organisations. Many of these visitors live in regions suffering from conflicts whose solution could have autonomy implications. The Peace Institute multiplies information about its activities and imparts knowledge about the special status of Åland under public international law.
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Visit from the South Caucasus
The Åland Islands Peace Institute was hosting a South Caucasian visit in early June. Twenty two Armenian and Azerbiajani civil societies' representatives visited Åland to enhance their understanding of self-government and demilitarization issues. The visit was organized in collaboration between the Åland Islands Peace Institute, the Armenian Committee of Helsinki Citizens' Assembly, and the Azerbaijan Committee of Helsinki Citizens' Assembly with its Karabakh Committee and Nagorno Karabakh Committee of Helsinki Initiative-92. The project was implemented with the support from the Ministry for foreigh Affairs of Finland. Some of the participants conducted interviews with Ålanders on the street in order to deepen their insights during the visit.
Visit from Swedish authors Herman and Birgitta Lindqvist
The Åland Islands Peace Institute has the pelasuere of hosting Swedish authors Herman and Birgitta Lindqvist dureing their four days stay on Åland in May 2009. Herman Lindqvist is the opening speaker at the opening of the Exhibition Outpost, land in between, bridge at the Åland museum/Åland Art Museum 28th May 2009.Wednesday 27th the guests visited the Peace Institute for informal discussions with the staff and for a meeting with local media.
Nepalese biker on world tour for peace
Furtemba Sherpa from Nepal started his bicycle world tour for peace and the environment in December 2003. He has so far visited 40 countries and last week passed by Åland. He made a spontaneous visit at the Åland Islands Peace Institute and told us about his experiences so far.- Most people are kind and generous, but on the border between Thailand and Cambodia I got robbed, Furtemba sais.
Furtemba speaks 10 Asian languages, but excuses himself for his English.
- Most of the time I find Nepalese people who can help me translate, but I haven't found anyone on Åland.
Furtmeba has had sponsors on his trip, but right now he is in search for new ones.
From Åland he continues his journey to mainland Finland and will then proceed to the Baltic countries.
The Åland Islands Peace Institute wishes Furtemba the best of luck on the remains of his trip.
Furtembas home page can be checked out here.
Visit from Lithuania, Kaliningrad and Belarus
partners from Visit from Lithuania, Kaliningrad and Belarus have been visiting Åland and the Åland Islands Peace Institute from 9 to 12 of june. the aim of the visit was for the partners to hold a network meeting, share experiences, do study visits, learn more on the Åland Islands and on the peace institute and - maybe the most important thing - to meet Mia Hanström, author of the book on the girl group method.All of the visitors are acquainted with the girl group method and most of them are managing their own girl groups. The visitors found the study sessions with Mia Hanström very inspiring and also took advantage from learning on each others successes and setbacks.
Azeri/Armenian film on Åland
Åland is visited by a team of journalists from Yerevan in Armenia and Baku in Azerbadjan. The team is working with a series of documentaries about various ethno-territorial conflicts worldwide. The films are dealing with Northern Ireland, the Basque region in Spain, Cyprus, Bosnia, South Tyrol in Italy and Åland and will be simultaneously broadcast in both countries to present to the Armenian and Azerbaijani audiences diverse examples of conflict prevention and self-government in Europe.Princess of Sweden interested in alandic status
Thursday 15 of May Sia Spiliopoulou Åkermark, the director of the Åland Islands Peace Institute, held a speech for the Swedish Crown Princess Victoria, who is visiting the Aland Islands. Spiliopoulou Åkermark talked about the Aland Islands as a living example of an autonomous region under constant development. The authonomy is constantly renewed through different forms of cooperation and renegotiations between the Islands and the finnish state. There is also a dialogue between the Åland Islands and the states that have guaranteed their status, not least with Sweden.
The Crown Princess, who has taken peace- and conflict studies at the University of Uppsala in Sweden, at the coffee break mentioned to the director of the Åland Islands Peace Institute that she is acquainted with the status of the Aland Island from her studies. She also took the opportunity to ask more about the Åland Islands example in international conflict resolution.
Read the full presentation here (in Swedish).