1959, Graduate, University of Oulu Teachers' Training College. 1960-63, taught at the Swedish Pakistani Institute of Technology, Karachi. 1965, joined Department for International Development Cooperation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland: 1965-71, Secretary, Bureau of Development Cooperation; 1971-72, Head of Section; 1972-73, Deputy Director, Department for International Development Cooperation. 1973-77, Ambassador to the Republic of Tanzania (also accredited Zambia, Somalia and Mozambique); 1977-81, United Nations Commissioner for Namibia; 1978-86, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Namibia; 1984-86, Undersecretary of State, Dept. for International Development Cooperation, Ministry for Foreign Affairs; 1987-91, Undersecretary-General for Administration and Management of the United Nations; 1989-90, Head, UN operation in Namibia (UNTAG); since 1991, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Since 1994, President of the Republic of Finland. 1992-93, Chairman, Bosnia Herzegovina Working Group of the International Conference on Former Yugoslavia. 1993, Special Adviser to the International Conference on Former Yugoslavia and to UN Secretary-General's Special Representative for Former Yugoslavia.