Jüri Luik

Jüri Luik ( born August 17, 1966 in Tallinn) is an Estonian politician and diplomat. He was from 1994 to 1995 Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Estonia.

Diplomacy and Politics

After finishing high school in Tallinn Jüri Luik studied until 1989 journalism at the University of Tartu. In 1988 he became editor of the cultural magazine Vikerkaar ( "Rainbow "). In 1991 he entered the diplomatic service of the Republic of Estonia. He initially worked at the Estonian Embassy in London. He was Political Director of the Estonian Foreign Ministry in 1992. In the same year he became a member of the Estonian Parliament ( Riigikogu ).

From 1992 to 1994, Jüri Luik Minister of the Estonian government, initially, and later Minister of Defense Minister without Portfolio. From 7 January 1994 to 17 April 1995, he was Estonian foreign minister. He belongs to the party "Fatherland Union " ( Isamaaliit ) to.

1995/96 Luik was Senior Research Fellow of the Carnegie Foundation. From 1996 to 1999 he was the Estonian Ambassador to NATO and in the Benelux countries before Defence Minister of the Republic of Estonia was again from 1999 to 2002. 2002/2003 he was head of the Estonian delegation negotiating to join NATO. September 2003, he was the Estonian ambassador to the United States and was also accredited in Canada and Mexico. In 2007, he was replaced as ambassador by Väino Reinart. Luik was now again Estonian Ambassador to NATO.

Private life

Jüri Luik is married and has a son.