Jaak Jõerüüt
Encyclopedia
Jaak Jõerüüt is an Estonian
writer and politician. He was the defense minister of Estonia
from November 2004 to 10 October 2005.
He was appointed to that position in November 2004 in Juhan Parts
's government. When Parts resigned in April 2005, Jaak Jõerüüt was one of the few ministers retained in Andrus Ansip
's government. Jõerüüt was also acting foreign minister
of Estonia for a few days in February 2005.
In September 2005, Jõerüüt resigned voluntarily over the so-called "T-Shirt Affair". (A T-shirt was produced with a list of the names of several Estonian politicians, including Jõerüüt, who are former members of the communist party
; it was headed "Commies into the Oven!" At a soccer match, this was worn by several people who were in the employment of his ministry.) Media and analysis comments mainly concluded that Jõerüüt resigned to distance himself from a government shaken by scandal, to create an untainted image for himself for further office, perhaps that of President of Estonia. Jõerüüt was succeeded by Jürgen Ligi
.
Jõerüüt previously served as Estonia's ambassador to the United Nations
in 2004. He served as ambassador to Italy
and Malta
from 1998 through 2002, and ambassador to Cyprus
from 1999 through 2004. From 1993 to 1997, Jõerüüt was ambassador to Finland
and from 2006 to 2011 to Latvia
and now to Sweden
from 2011.
Estonians
Estonians are a Finnic people closely related to the Finns and inhabiting, primarily, the country of Estonia. They speak a Finnic language known as Estonian...
writer and politician. He was the defense minister of Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
from November 2004 to 10 October 2005.
He was appointed to that position in November 2004 in Juhan Parts
Juhan Parts
Juhan Parts is an Estonian politician who was Prime Minister of Estonia from 2003 to 2005. He was chairman of the Res Publica Party for a time. Since 5 April 2007 he is the Minister of Economy and Communication in Andrus Ansip's second government...
's government. When Parts resigned in April 2005, Jaak Jõerüüt was one of the few ministers retained in Andrus Ansip
Andrus Ansip
Andrus Ansip is the current Prime Minister of Estonia, and chairman of the market liberal Estonian Reform Party .-Early life and career:...
's government. Jõerüüt was also acting foreign minister
Foreign minister
A Minister of Foreign Affairs, or foreign minister, is a cabinet minister who helps form the foreign policy of a sovereign state. The foreign minister is often regarded as the most senior ministerial position below that of the head of government . It is often granted to the deputy prime minister in...
of Estonia for a few days in February 2005.
In September 2005, Jõerüüt resigned voluntarily over the so-called "T-Shirt Affair". (A T-shirt was produced with a list of the names of several Estonian politicians, including Jõerüüt, who are former members of the communist party
Communist Party of the Soviet Union
The Communist Party of the Soviet Union was the only legal, ruling political party in the Soviet Union and one of the largest communist organizations in the world...
; it was headed "Commies into the Oven!" At a soccer match, this was worn by several people who were in the employment of his ministry.) Media and analysis comments mainly concluded that Jõerüüt resigned to distance himself from a government shaken by scandal, to create an untainted image for himself for further office, perhaps that of President of Estonia. Jõerüüt was succeeded by Jürgen Ligi
Jürgen Ligi
Jürgen Ligi is an Estonian politician, a member of the liberal Reform Party.He is a long-time member of the Estonian parliament Riigikogu . For the last two years in the Riigikogu he served as the chairman of the Parliamentary Committee for Budget Control.From 2005 to 2007 Jürgen Ligi was Minister...
.
Jõerüüt previously served as Estonia's ambassador to the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
in 2004. He served as ambassador to Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
from 1998 through 2002, and ambassador to Cyprus
Cyprus
Cyprus , officially the Republic of Cyprus , is a Eurasian island country, member of the European Union, in the Eastern Mediterranean, east of Greece, south of Turkey, west of Syria and north of Egypt. It is the third largest island in the Mediterranean Sea.The earliest known human activity on the...
from 1999 through 2004. From 1993 to 1997, Jõerüüt was ambassador to Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
and from 2006 to 2011 to Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
and now to Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
from 2011.