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