Harri Holkeri facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Harri Holkeri
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| 36th Prime Minister of Finland | |
| In office 30 April 1987 – 26 April 1991 |
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| President | Mauno Koivisto |
| Deputy | Kalevi Sorsa Pertti Paasio |
| Preceded by | Kalevi Sorsa |
| Succeeded by | Esko Aho |
| 4th Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Kosovo | |
| In office 25 August 2003 – 11 July 2004 |
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| Preceded by | Michael Steiner |
| Succeeded by | Søren Jessen-Petersen |
| President of the United Nations General Assembly | |
| In office 5 September 2000 – 10 September 2001 |
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| Preceded by | Theo-Ben Gurirab |
| Succeeded by | Han Seung-soo |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Harri Hermanni Holkeri
6 January 1937 Oripää, Finland |
| Died | 7 August 2011 (aged 74) Helsinki, Finland |
| Political party | National Coalition |
| Alma mater | University of Helsinki |
| Profession | Master of Political Sciences |
Harri Hermanni Holkeri (born January 6, 1937 – died August 7, 2011) was an important Finnish leader. He was a member of the National Coalition Party of Finland. He served as the Prime Minister of Finland from 1987 to 1991.
Holkeri also led the UN General Assembly from 2000 to 2001. Later, he worked for the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo from 2003 to 2004. He had to leave this role because of health issues.
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Harri Holkeri's Political Career
Harri Holkeri had a long and active career in Finnish politics. He was a member of the Finnish Parliament from 1970 to 1978. During this time, he also served as the chairman of the National Coalition Party from 1971 to 1979.
He was a candidate in the presidential elections in both 1982 and 1988. From 1978 to 1997, he was part of the board of directors for the Bank of Finland. This role meant he helped manage Finland's money and economy.
A Historic Phone Call
On July 1, 1991, Harri Holkeri made history. He made the world's first official GSM phone call. He called Kaarina Suonio, who was the vice mayor of Tampere, a city in Finland. This important call used Nokia equipment and helped start the modern mobile phone era.
International Contributions
Harri Holkeri played a big role on the world stage. He was the chairman of the United Nations General Assembly during its 55th session (2000–2001). This meant he led important discussions and decisions for countries around the world.
Helping Peace in Northern Ireland
He also helped bring peace to Northern Ireland. Holkeri played a key part in making the Good Friday Agreement happen. This agreement was a major step towards ending conflict in the region.
Later Years and Passing
In his later years, Harri Holkeri lived in Helsinki, Finland. He passed away in 2011 in Helsinki.
Honors and Awards
Harri Holkeri received many important honors for his work.
Finnish Honors
In 1998, the President of Finland, Martti Ahtisaari, gave Holkeri the highest Finnish honorary title. This title is called Counselor of State.
International Recognition
For his efforts in Northern Ireland, Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom honored him. He was made an honorary KBE.
See also
In Spanish: Harri Holkeri para niños
