Pentti Väänänen
Pentti Väänänen is a former Secretary-General of the Socialist International (1983-1989) and was a key player behind the scenes in international politics during the height of the Cold War.
Having worked closely with world leaders as a trusted adviser and intermediary, Pentti Väänänen wrote a book that has been published in his native Finnish language "Purppuraruusu ja samettinyrkki". Drawing on official reports and his own records, Väänänen's book gives a fascinating insight into the politics of the time and what really went on the circles of power.
Currently Pentti Väänänen is working full time on an English version of the book entitled "The Purple Rose and the Velvet Fist".[1]
Bernt Carlsson's final call
Extract from Jan-Olof Bengtsson's article in the Swedish newspaper iDAG entitled "Stressed and nervous before death crash":
- At about 5.30pm on 21 December 1988 the telephone rings in the home of Pentti Väänäänen, then Secretary-General of the Socialist International, and an old friend of Bernt Carlsson:
- "It was Bernt calling from the airport just before he boarded Pan Am 103," Väänäänen says. "We exchanged Christmas greetings and talked a little about the Namibia agreement."
- Bengtsson: Did he tell you who he had seen in London?
- "No".
- Bengtsson: How would you describe his frame of mind?
- "If you want me to tell you in just a few words, he sounded nervous," Väänäänen replied.
Picture captions: (Picture left-hand side): His friend, Pentti Väänäänen, thought that Bernt Carlsson seemed nervous before his trip to New York, despite approaching the climax of his life. (Right-hand picture): Bernt Carlsson had a secret meeting in London with the world's largest producer of diamonds, De Beers. It would seem that he was coerced into it.
