ESTONIA NAMES NEW AMBASSADOR TO RUSSIA

C O N F I D E N T I A L TALLINN 000259 SIPDIS FOR EUR/NB KATHERINE GARRY E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/20/2018 TAGS: PINR PGOV PREL RU EN SUBJECT: ESTONIA NAMES NEW AMBASSADOR TO RUSSIA Classified by: CDA Karen Decker for reasons 1.4 (b) & (d) ¶1. (C) Summary. On August 1, Simmu Tiik, Estonia's new Ambassador to Russia, will take up his duties in Moscow, replacing Marina Kaljurand. Tiik, a fifteen-year veteran of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is an outgoing (and verbose) personality who has served in several senior positions within the MFA and as Estonia's Ambassador to Ireland. Tiik is an advocate for maintaining Estonia's current official bilateral approach to Moscow - pursing cooperation in non-political areas of mutual interest like search and rescue, pollution and pensions. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (U) In June 2008, President Ilves appointed Simmu Tiik as Estonia's next Ambassador to Russia. Tiik, an established Embassy contact and 15 year veteran of the MFA, will take up his duties in Moscow on August 1, 2008. He is very well respected within the MFA, serving most recently as Director of the MFA's 3rd Political Department, which has responsibility for Russia. Tiik is considered one of the Ministry's Russia experts and was actively involved in Estonia's response during the assault on the Estonian Embassy in Moscow following the relocation of the Bronze Solider monument in April 2007. ¶3. (C) Initial discussions with Tiik may give the impression that he falls into the anti-Russian camp of Estonian politicians. He is, however, level-headed and can be expected to pursue calm, measured responses. During a recent meeting, Tiik told us that as Ambassador to Russia, his goal is to keep the lines of communication between Estonian and Russia open and to keep emotions tempered and bilateral relations as pragmatic as possible. Tiik fully supports the GOE's current policy of pursuing 'small steps' negotiations with the GOR, rather than 'rushing into' more politicized issues. He noted areas for cooperation including cross border search and rescue missions, agreements on pollution and social agreements such as the transfer of pensions. BIO NOTES AND COMMENTARY ¶4. (C) Simmu Tiik was born on February 19, 1959 in Tartu, Estonia. He graduated with a degree in history from Tartu University in 1989 and continued his post graduate studies in the History Department at the University of Copenhagen from 1989-1993. He began his career in the Estonian Foreign Service in the policy planning department in 1993, subsequently serving as political officer at the Estonian Embassy in Denmark from 1997-1999. Between 1999 and 2003, Tiik served in the MFA and State Chancellery, serving as Prime Minister Mart Laar's foreign policy advisor and Chef de Cabinet to then Foreign Minister Kristiina Ojuland. From 2003-2006, he was Estonia's Ambassador to Ireland. Following this assignment, Tiik became Director of the 3rd Political Department of the MFA, covering Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Russia, Asia, Australia and Oceania, Africa, the Near East, the Middle East and Latin America. Tiik speaks Russian, English and Danish. He is married with one daughter. ¶5. (C) Like most Estonians, Simmu Tiik is often very direct. However, he has a very lively personality and tends to be verbose, not typical Estonian traits. Tiik is a heavy smoker, does not shy away from a social drink and occasionally likes to tell somewhat off color jokes. He can appear a bit abrasive upon first meeting him, but he is extremely approachable and always willing to talk. He has a way of breaking analysis down into laymen terms that is both insightful and clear. Tiik frequently uses colorful language and metaphors to illustrate his point. For example, Tiik once commented that Russian political culture has 'Byzantine roots,' the more you beg, the higher the price gets. DECKER