20 Facts About Sakari Tuomioja

Sakari Tuomioja was the first Finnish invited to the Bilderberg Group meetings.

Sakari Tuomioja's spouse was Vappu Tuomioja, and they had two children, daughter Tuuli and son Erkki who has followed his father career in politics as Foreign Minister.

Walto Wihtori Sakari Tuomioja was Leader of the National Progressive Party and Member of Parliament, and Eljas Erkko's predecessor as Editor-in-Chief in Helsingin Sanomat newspaper.

Sakari Tuomioja began undergraduate studies in 1929 and graduated as a Bachelor of Law in 1937.

Sakari Tuomioja received the rank of Master of Law in 1940.

Sakari Tuomioja worked as secretary of the Finance Committee in the 1930s and secretary of state auditors.

Sakari Tuomioja started his duties as Secretary of State of the Ministry of Finance in 1940.

Sakari Tuomioja was appointed Governor of the Bank of Finland, in 1945 after Risto Ryti had resigned because of his sentencing for war guilt.

Sakari Tuomioja was appointed on 11 April 1950 to head the Finnish delegation in trade negotiations with the Soviet Union.

Kekkonen asked Sakari Tuomioja to prepare a new economic program for the government, which would allow for a sufficient majority of votes.

Sakari Tuomioja resigned from the duties of the Governor of the Bank of Finland in 1955, after being elected as Finland's Ambassador to London.

Sakari Tuomioja was the first Finnish person to be appointed to the United Nations.

Sakari Tuomioja did not apply for a further extension after the first three years in the European Economic Commission, and finally returned to Finland where he was thought to be planning to become a candidate for the 1962 presidential election.

When returning to Finland, Sakari Tuomioja started work as a negotiating officer for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 1 November 1960.

Sakari Tuomioja was appointed to the Ambassador to Stockholm next spring as of 1 July 1961.

UN Secretary General U Thant invited Sakari Tuomioja to be a mediator during the Cyprus crisis in April 1964.

Sakari Tuomioja suffered a brain hemorrhage on August 16,1964 when he was performing his mediator's duties in Cyprus.

Sakari Tuomioja died at the Kivela Hospital in Helsinki at the presence of his family on Wednesday, September 9,1964.

Secretary-General U Thant said in his memo that Sakari Tuomioja served meritoriously not only as a patriot but as a very skilful UN mediator.

Sakari Tuomioja was succeeded by Galo Plaza as mediator in the Cyprus dispute.