Urmas Paet
| Urmas Paet | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office April 2005 | |
| President | Arnold Rüütel, Toomas Hendrik Ilves |
| Preceded by | Rein Lang |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 20 April 1974 Tallinn, Estonia |
| Nationality | Estonian |
| Political party | Estonian Reform Party |
| Alma mater | University of Tartu |
| Signature |  |
Urmas Paet (born 20 April 1974) is an Estonian politician who has been Minister of Foreign Affairs of Estonia since 2005. He is a member of the Estonian Reform Party. As of September 2010, Paet has been the longest serving minister since the re-establishment of Estonian independence.[1]
Biography
Paet was born in Tallinn. He graduated from the University of Tartu in 1996 with a BA in political science and continued his graduate studies there, however without obtaining the degree. He had been active in journalism during his studies, and continued in that career until 1999, when he entered politics by joining the Reform Party and becoming professional advisor. He served as the Deputy Mayor of Nõmme (a district of Tallinn) from 1999 to 2003.
In April 2003, when the Juhan Parts government took office, Paet became Estonian Minister of Culture. He remained in that position until April 2005, when the Parts government fell. Since April 2005, when the Andrus Ansip cabinet took office, he has been Foreign Minister.
Paet is married and has two children. He is a polyglot and speaks Estonian, German, Finnish and English.
External links
Media related to Urmas Paet at Wikimedia Commons
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Vilja Savisaar |
Elder of Nõmme District, Tallinn 1999–2003 |
Succeeded by Hanno Pevkur |
| Preceded by Margus Allikmaa |
Minister of Culture April 2003 – April 2005 |
Succeeded by Raivo Palmaru |
| Preceded by Rein Lang |
Minister of Foreign Affairs April 2005–present |
Incumbent |