Åland has been presented to a wide international audience
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By Pekka Mykkänen
The self-government solution crafted for the Åland Islands by the League of Nations in 1921, in which the interests of Finland, Sweden, and the Ålanders themselves were considered, has been displayed to visitors on numerous occasions over the decades.
There was a kind of climax in 1984, when an international peace conference, arranged by the Red Cross and Red Crescent, was held in Mariehamn, with delegates from 105 countries in attendance. Åland gave itself the nickname "Islands of Peace". The demilitarisation and neutrality of the area were the subject of some attention and interest.
Åland has been presented in large international forums, for example at the UN in Geneva in 1999 and in New York two years later, and at the European Parliament in 2002.
Delegations of varying levels, from political leaders to journalists, have come from at least the countries and regions listed below, looking to learn about the Åland example. Alternatively, the islanders themselves have visited the areas to tell of their experiences:
- Argentina, Falkland Islands
- Armenia, Azerbaijan, Nagorno-Karabakh
- Austria, South Tyrol (the Italian Province of Bozen-Südtirol/Bolzano-Alto Adige)
- Croatia, Krajina
- France, Corsica
- Hong Kong
- India, Kashmir, Nagaland
- Indonesia, Aceh, Irian Jaya
- Israel, Palestinian territories
- Japan, Okinawa
- Moldova, Gagauzia, Transnistria or Transdniester
- Northern Ireland
- Pakistan, Kashmir
- Romania, Transylvania
- Russia
- Serbia, Kosovo, Montenegro, Vojvodina
- Southern Philippines (Mindanao)
- Spain, e.g. Basque region
- Sri Lanka
- Tanzania, Zanzibar
- Government of Tibet in Exile
- Ukraine, Crimea
Helsingin Sanomat / First published in print 20.3.2005
Sources: Åland Office, Helsinki; the Åland Provincial Government; Åland Islands Peace Institute; Helsingin Sanomat Archives.
More on this subject:
 Suomi-Finland Presents: The Åland Show
PEKKA MYKKÄNEN / Helsingin Sanomat
pekka.mykkanen@hs.fi
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