Minister of Foreign Affairs (Estonia)
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The Minister of Foreign Affairs (Estonian: välisminister) is the senior minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Estonian: Eesti Vabariigi Välisministeerium) in the Estonian Government. The Minister is one of the most important members of the Estonian government, with responsibility for the relations between Estonia and foreign states.
The Foreign Minister is chosen by the Prime Minister as a part of the government. The current Foreign Minister is Keit Pentus-Rosimannus, who took the position on 17 November 2014 after the previous minister Urmas Paet became a member of the European Parliament.
Besides the Foreign Minister there are several Undersecretaries that assist in running the various divisions of the Foreign Ministry:
- Secretary General – Matti Maasikas: Oversees the Undersecretary divisions as well as Diplomatic Security, Protocol, and Internal Audit Departments, and is the second highest position in the Foreign Ministry
- Undersecretary of the Ministry, Political Affairs – Sven Jürgenson: Oversees and develops policy for areas outside of the European Union, and runs the Press and Information division of the Foreign Ministry
- Undersecretary of the Ministry, Foreign Economic Policy Affairs – Mart Laanemäe: Oversees and develops economic policy concerning foreign states for the Foreign Ministry.
- Undersecretary of the Ministry, European Union Affairs – Kaja Tael: Oversees and develops policy concerning relations with states within the EU and relations with the EU.
- Undersecretary of the Ministry, Legal and Consular Affairs – Aino Lepik von Wiren: Oversees the Legal and Consular divisions.
- Undersecretary of the Ministry, Administrative Affairs – Mati Vaarmann: Oversees the daily administrative and personnel tasks of the Foreign Ministry
| # | Name | Took Office | Left Office | Party |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1919–1940: before World War II | ||||
| 1 | Jaan Poska | 1918 | 1919 | |
| 2 | Ants Piip | 1919 | 1919 | |
| 3 | Ado Birk | 1919 | 1920 | |
| 4 | Kaarel Robert Pusta | 1920 | 1920 | |
| 5 | Otto Strandmann | 1920 | 1921 | |
| Ants Piip (2nd time) | 1921 | 1922 | ||
| 6 | Aleksander Hellat | 1922 | 1923 | |
| 7 | Friedrich Akel | 1923 | 1924 | |
| Otto Strandmann (2nd time) | 1924 | 1924 | ||
| Kaarel Robert Pusta (2nd time) | 1924 | 1925 | ||
| Ants Piip (3rd time) | 1925 | 1926 | ||
| Friedrich Akel (2nd time) | 1926 | 1927 | ||
| Aleksander Hellat (2nd time) | 1927 | 1927 | ||
| 8 | Hans Rebane | 1927 | 1928 | |
| 9 | Jaan Lattik | 1928 | 1931 | |
| 10 | Jaan Tõnisson | 1931 | 1932 | |
| 11 | Mihkel Pung | 1932 | 1932 | |
| 12 | August Rei | 1932 | 1933 | |
| Ants Piip (4th time) | 1933 | 1933 | ||
| 13 | Julius Seljamaa | 1933 | 1936 | |
| Friedrich Akel (3rd time) | 1936 | 1938 | ||
| 14 | Karl Selter | 1938 | 1939 | |
| Ants Piip (5th time) | 1939 | 1940 | ||
| 1940–1990: in exile | ||||
| X | August Rei | 1944 | 1945 | |
| X | Aleksander Warma | 1953 | 1963 | |
| X | August Koern | 1964 | 1982 | |
| X | Elmar Lipping | 1982 | 1990 | |
| X | Olev Olesk | 1990 | 1992 | |
| 1990 to present | ||||
| 15 | Lennart Meri | April 1990 | March 1992 | Popular Front of Estonia |
| 16 | Jaan Manitski | April 1992 | October 1992 | (none) |
| 17 | Trivimi Velliste | October 1992 | January 1994 | Pro Patria Union |
| 18 | Jüri Luik | January 1994 | April 1995 | Pro Patria Union |
| 19 | Riivo Sinijärv | April 1995 | November 1995 | Estonian Coalition Party |
| 20 | Siim Kallas | November 1995 | November 1996 | Estonian Reform Party |
| 21 | Toomas Hendrik Ilves | November 1996 | October 1998 | Social Democratic Party |
| 22 | Raul Mälk | October 1998 | March 1999 | (none) |
| Toomas Hendrik Ilves (2nd time) | March 1999 | January 2002 | Social Democratic Party | |
| 23 | Kristiina Ojuland | January 2002 | February 2005 | Estonian Reform Party |
| 24 | Jaak Jõerüüt | February 2005 | February 2005 | Estonian Reform Party |
| 25 | Rein Lang | February 2005 | April 2005 | Estonian Reform Party |
| 26 | Urmas Paet | April 2005 | November 2014 | Estonian Reform Party |
| 27 | Anne Sulling | November 2014 | November 2014 | Estonian Reform Party |
| 28 | Keit Pentus-Rosimannus | November 2014 | Incumbent | Estonian Reform Party |
See also
Contact information
Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Islandi väljak 1, 15049 Tallinn
e-mail: vminfo@vm.ee
tel:(+372) 6 377 000
FAX:(+372) 6 377 099