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Alpo Rusi

b. 1949

Finnish diplomat

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About Alpo Rusi

Born 1949. Alpo Rusi is a Finnish diplomat.

Alpo Rusi (born 17 August 1949, in Jyväskylä) served in the Foreign Ministry of Finland in several assignments (Hamburg, Copenhagen, New York, Bonn), and from 1994 to 1999 as foreign policy adviser to the President of Finland Martti Ahtisaari. He also served as EU Coordinator for the Sarajevo Summit 1999 and deputy Coordinator of the Stability Pact for Western Balkans in 1999–2000. He worked as professor of International Relations, 2000–2003, at Lapland University and in Hamburg. Later on 2007-2009 he was senior adviser in the Cabinet staff of the President of the UN General Assembly.

Rusi was from 2009-2014 the ambassador of Finland to Switzerland, with accreditation also to Liechtenstein and the Holy See. Rusi is a recognized scholar in the field of international relations and history of Finland, and has published several books in Finland, and in the United States and Great Britain.

Rusi was a candidate for the Centre Party in 2015 parliamentary elections. He was a candidate in the 2004 European Parliament Elections and an MP Candidate in 2007.

Career The Rudolf Holsti Professor of Diplomacy, Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania, 2017- Visiting Professor, Vytautas Magnus University, Lithuania, 2016- Expert, Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies, Harvard University, 2015- Ambassador of Finland, Bern, Switzerland, 2009-2014 Senior Adviser in the Cabinet Staff of the President of the UN General Assembly, 2007-2009 Roving Ambassador in the Balkans, 2004-2007 Chairman of the Evaluation Committee of the Stability Pact for Western Balkans, 2005-2006 Professor of International Relations, University of Lapland, 2000-2003 Deputy Coordinator of the Stability Pact for Western Balkans, 2000 EU Coordinator for the Sarajevo Summit, 1999 Adviser of President of Finland Martti Ahtisaari, 1994-1999 Ambassador, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, 1993 Minister, West Germany, 1992-1993 Chief of West Office, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, 1991-1992 Resident Fellow, EastWest Institute, New York, the United States, 1988-1989 Visiting Researcher, Columbia University, New York, the United States, 1988-1989 Chief of Planning Department, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, 1987-1990 Counsellor, the United Nations, 1983-1986 Editor in Chief, Lalli Newspaper, 1982 Member of Finland's OSCE Delegation, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, 1982 First Secretary, Embassy of Finland in Copenhagen, Denmark, 1977-1979 Vice Consular, West Germany, 1975-1977 Maturity Test, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, 1975 Attaché, Embassy of Finland in London, the United Kingdom, 1974 Attaché, Ministry for Foreign Affairs, 1973

False espionage investigation In 2002 the Finnish Security Police (SUPO) investigated Alpo Rusi for espionage on behalf of the East German Stasi between 1969 and 1976. The investigation was leaked to the media on September 10, 2002, and caused a major "trial by media" in Finland. Alpo Rusi was declared innocent by the state prosecutor on June 11, 2003. Later, the same prosecutor told Helsingin Sanomat (January 24, 2010) that SUPO made a mistake by not ending the investigation in January 2003, when it was clear that Alpo Rusi had nothing to do with the Stasi or the KGB. Alpo Rusi's brother, Jukka Rusi, had been in contact with East Germany and the Soviet Union. Rusi took the case to court and was awarded major compensation from the state of Finland in 2007.In real terms Alpo Rusi was twice a criminal target of foreign intelligence (Stasi 1976, the KGB 1978) which the Finish Security Police tried to make Rusi's crimes. This vindicates the investigation and its leaking as a political act.

Publications Yhdessä vai erikseen - Suomen ja Ruotsin turvallisuuspolitiikka tienhaarassa (Docendo, 2016) Etupiirin ote - Suomen valtapeli Euroopan rajalla 1700-2014 (Gummerus, 2014) Tiitisen lista (Gummerus, 2011) Vasemmalta ohi (Gummerus, 2007) Myrskyjen aika (Atena, 2004) Kylmä tasavalta. Alpo Rusi & Olli Rehn (WSOY, 2003) Ei enää erityistapaus (WSOY, 2003) Mariankadun puolelta (Otava, 2000) A Dangerous Peace: New Rivalry in World Politics (Westview Press Inc, 1997) After the Cold War: Europe's New Political Architecture (Palgrave Schol, Print UK. 1991)

Honours and awards Order of the White Star, 3rd Class Commander of the Finnish Lion Woodrow Wilson Foundation Prize Nominee 1992

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Important facts

Birth century
Occupation
Nationality
Awards
Great Golden Medal of Honour for Services to the Republic of Austria; Commander of the Order of the Lion of Finland; Knight of the Order of the White Rose of Finland; Medal for Military Merits; Commander's Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany; Commander of the Royal Victorian Order; Knight Grand Officer of the Order of the Polar Star; Knight of the Order of the Dannebrog; Order of the White Star, 3rd Class; Knight First Class of the Order of the Lion of Finland

People in Alpo Rusi's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Alpo Rusi's

Frequently asked questions

Who is Alpo Rusi?

Finnish diplomat

When was Alpo Rusi born?

Alpo Rusi was born on 17 August 1949 in Jyväskylä.

What is Alpo Rusi's occupation?

Alpo Rusi is a diplomat.

What nationality is Alpo Rusi?

Alpo Rusi is Finnish.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Alpo Rusi

· Wikidata: Q4735632

· DBpedia: Alpo Rusi

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Alpo Rusi. https://biography.guide/alpo-rusi/

MLA: "Alpo Rusi." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/alpo-rusi/.

Chicago: "Alpo Rusi." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/alpo-rusi/.

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