General information
I believe that the representative body of our nation must actively take part in the Estonian foreign policy discussions. Such discussions help to shape the political consensus which is vital for a small country. I hope to put my experiences and knowledge into good use in contributing towards an efficient and widely supported foreign policy.
Electoral district:
Seniority in days:
213
Date of birth:
17.08.1966
Place of birth:
Tallinn
Family:
Married, one son
Education:
Tallinn English College (former Tallinn Secondary School No. 7) 1984;
University of Tartu, history (equivalent to Master’s degree) 1989
University of Tartu, history (equivalent to Master’s degree) 1989
Career:
cultural journal Vikerkaar, political editor 1988–1990;
Estonian Institute, assistant advisor on Anglo-Saxon countries 1990–1991;
minister without portfolio, head of the Estonian Delegation in Russian-Estonian intergovernmental negotiations 1992–1993;
Minister of Defence, 1993–1994, 1999–2002, 2017–2021;
Minister of Foreign Affairs 1994–1995;
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (Washington DC, USA), Visiting Associate 1995–1996;
Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Policy Department, Head of Office, Director 1991, ambassador to Brussels 1996–1999, head of the NATO accession negotiation delegation 2002–2003, ambassador to Washington 2003–2007, permanent representative to NATO 2007–2012, ambassador to Moscow 2012–2015;
International Centre for Defence and Security, Director 2015–2017
Estonian Institute, assistant advisor on Anglo-Saxon countries 1990–1991;
minister without portfolio, head of the Estonian Delegation in Russian-Estonian intergovernmental negotiations 1992–1993;
Minister of Defence, 1993–1994, 1999–2002, 2017–2021;
Minister of Foreign Affairs 1994–1995;
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (Washington DC, USA), Visiting Associate 1995–1996;
Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Policy Department, Head of Office, Director 1991, ambassador to Brussels 1996–1999, head of the NATO accession negotiation delegation 2002–2003, ambassador to Washington 2003–2007, permanent representative to NATO 2007–2012, ambassador to Moscow 2012–2015;
International Centre for Defence and Security, Director 2015–2017
Party affiliation:
Coalition Party of Republicans/ Res Publica (founding member)/ Isamaa 1990–
Membership in representative bodies:
7th Riigikogu, 14th Riigikogu (Vice-Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee 2021–)
Awards:
Order of the National Coat of Arms, 3rd Class 2004;
Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany with Star and Sash 2000;
National Order of the Legion of Honour of France 2001;
Order of Merit of the Republic of Lithuania, Commander's Grand Cross 2013
Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany with Star and Sash 2000;
National Order of the Legion of Honour of France 2001;
Order of Merit of the Republic of Lithuania, Commander's Grand Cross 2013
Other activities:
expert on foreign and defence policy;
analyses, lectures, articles in the press.
analyses, lectures, articles in the press.
Hobbies:
20th century history, national defence, international relations