Former president and Nobel laureate Martti Ahtisaari stresses the importance of Finland joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, NATO. Speaking at YLE's Ykkösaamu current affairs programme on Saturday, Ahtisaari said Finland should join NATO because it is the optimal channel through which to streamline peacekeeping efforts. He also emphasised that NATO is a civilian-run defence union that western democracies should support. "I don't want Finland to be the odd one out when most other states are already members," said Ahtisaari. Ahtisaari said Nato membership should not be viewed as a move against Russia. He said Russia is assuming characteristics of a developing country, as the state is not democratic, governance is weak and corruption is rife. "Russia seems to lack self-confidence today. A confident state would not attack another independent state, such as Georgia," explained Ahtisaari. Kosovo was Strenuous Time in Career The former president said his relationship with Russian leadership is good, although Kosovo's independence was a bitter pill for Russia to swallow. Ahtisaari pointed out that the time he spent hammering out a solution to the 1999 Kosovo crisis was the most difficult period in his career. He says he believes the outcome of the peace talks hinged on preventive diplomacy and on the strong signal sent to dictators that their actions would not be tolerated. The former president says mediation work calls for stubbornness and the courage to speak directly on difficult matters. "The best compliment ever paid to me was by an Eritrean economics professor who said he wanted to work with me to learn how to communicate difficult matters in a friendly manner," reminisced Ahtisaari. No Regrets

The former president, who served a term in office from 1994 to 2000, says he has no regrets over serving only one term as president. He says he didn't feel a calling to stay in politics.

"I didn't need the presidency, and my life wasn't dependent on it, although it was important and I am grateful to have had the assignment," said Ahtisaari.

The 71-year-old Ahtisaari said he has no intention of retiring. He will be handed the Nobel Peace Prize to honour his long career of peace brokering in December.