Rebuilding Estonia: From Soviet Occupation to Tech Giant
Q&A with Lauri Lepik, Ambassador of Estonia
The Republic of Estonia will celebrate its 100th anniversary on February 24.
Name: Lauri Lepik | Age: 57| Hometown: Tallinn, Estonia
Ambassador to the U.S. since: September 8, 2017
Where did you grow up, what was your childhood like?
I grew up in the Tallinn suburbs with my parents and grandmother in Soviet-occupied Estonia. We were the first stop for relatives who were returning from Siberia after being purged by the Soviets, until they were able to find their own living arrangements. I wouldn’t say it was all oppression, but there was always an understanding that something was wrong in our society. Within the family the government was always referred to as “them” and it was clear that they were not elected by us. We were lucky growing up in Tallinn, in close proximity to Finland. We could watch Finnish news and have an alternative worldview that we could always compare with the propaganda coming from Soviet television channels and decide for ourselves what was true and what was not.
Tell us a little bit about your career path and how you found your way from the National Library of Estonia to the Foreign Ministry.
I graduated as a librarian and worked in the National Library of Estonia doing research. I ended up becoming deputy national librarian dealing with international cooperation when things started to happen on a large scale. The Soviet Union started to crumble, Estonia saw a chance of regaining its independence in 1991, and everyone had to make choices about what to do with their lives. So when I got a phone call from the Prime Minister’s office asking if I wanted to join, it didn’t take long for me to decide. It was exciting to have the chance to be part of rebuilding the country from scratch. I worked at the Prime Minister’s office for four years before joining the Foreign Service in 1995. I worked on the desk for the U.S. and Canada which was very interesting because I had no experience whatsoever…but no one did. We just learned by doing.
Your first posting was to the United States and Canada — what was that like?
It was an interesting time where there was a big debate in Washington about NATO enlargement and whether the U.S. should support it or not. This was vastly important to us because we wanted to join NATO and it was crucial what the U.S. would decide. It was extremely fascinating for me to follow the debate, the discussions, and how the administration handled it. In the end there was overwhelming bipartisan support of the idea that NATO should enlarge to include the democracies in Europe that wished to join.
How have you liked being back in Washington, twenty years later?
When I left I never said that I would be back, but it just happened (laughter). I have enjoyed it very much. I have visited the U.S. almost twice a year since I left and have the advantage of knowing the surroundings. So even though I have been here less than four months, it’s a familiar country and feels like I haven’t left at all. I enjoy the city, the people. The city has improved tremendously which is a great thing.
What do you hope to accomplish?
To bolster and foster the bilateral relationship with the United States, which is as important now as it was twenty years ago. Not only in the traditional spheres of defense cooperation and security policy but also in business, trade, investment, and cultural links. It’s important to show the American public what Estonia really is nowadays, that we are extremely forward looking and technologically advanced. And it works both ways. I’d like to broaden the view of the Estonian population about the U.S. and what’s happening in other parts of the country outside Washington.
This year we will celebrate the centennial of the republic with an entire year of cultural events, exhibitions, meetings, and other festivities. The U.S. has played a crucial role in upholding the idea of Estonian statehood by its non-recognition policy of the Soviet annexation and occupation of Estonia. That policy was one of the drivers that allowed us to rebuild the country. For the U.S. it’s a great story to tell. It illustrates the values of American society that guide U.S. policy: the rule of law, the idea that all nations have a sovereign right to exist, and that it’s a very bad idea when a country grabs a piece of its neighbor.
You’ve had a diverse and interesting career between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Minister of Defense, most recently serving as Estonia’s permanent representative to the North Atlantic Council. Thinking back over your career, what has been your most memorable experience?
Professionally speaking, the last five years in NATO where I was a permanent representative of Estonia to the North Atlantic Council were extremely memorable. I experienced two totally different attitudes — the time before the Russian annexation of Crimea and Russian aggression against Ukraine and the time after. This experience demonstrated to me how the solidarity and unity of NATO really works. It was extremely gratifying to be part of those discussions and decisions and to observe that whenever there were differences during the negotiations, unity was maintained among world allies and that NATO itself is and will remain the most important security alliance for all its members, including the U.S.
Speaking of your career path — you took a leave of absence as a trailing spouse while your wife was serving as Estonia’s ambassador to Germany. What advice do you have for dual-career couples trying to balance two careers?
You have to take turns. When I was posted first here in Washington, my wife actually took a leave of absence from the Estonian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, so when we moved to Berlin it was my turn. In an ideal world you can find a way for you both to be employed in the same city, but there aren’t too many cities for those in the Estonian Foreign Service where that can happen. My wife currently works for the EU and she’s the chief foreign policy advisor to European Council President Donald Tusk, she’s still in Brussels and I’m here. It’s not easy, but it’s all based on trust and love and understanding. One piece of advice I could give to people in a similar situation is to plan ahead to see each other. In our professional lives there are so many meetings, visits, and distractions, but you have to stick to your plan because it is important.
What do you think is the most important characteristic that a diplomat needs to be successful?
You have to be quite humble and have the ability to listen to your partners and hear what they have to say. Listening to your interlocutors doesn’t mean you have to agree, but it does mean that you have to understand where they stand and what their arguments are. In multilateral diplomacy there are never win-win solutions.
The best deal is when everyone is equally unhappy.
Then you can be sure that the deal has a certain meaning. If one part feels that they have somehow won more than the others then the deal usually doesn’t stand — everyone has to be fully unhappy indeed (laughter).
Last July, Estonia assumed its first-ever Presidency of the Council of the EU. What does this mean for you personally?
Personally, I’m very proud. I think my colleagues back at home and in Brussels did an excellent job. I like the way they have handled the presidency, the main messages, and the digital summit we had in Tallinn in September. The presidency is a great opportunity for us to highlight how our society works and how integrating new solutions into our lives has improved quality of life. You shouldn’t be afraid of new technologies — they are there to serve us.
Estonia joined the EU in 2004 and has been among its most positive supporters. What is something you wish that Americans could understand about the EU?
The EU really is a great achievement and it’s good for the United States as a partner. It’s really the only like-minded partner of this magnitude that the U.S. has — and the EU as well.
I read somewhere that every day more than $3 billion of trade is conducted between the EU and U.S. This figure clearly illustrates how close and mutually beneficial this relationship is.
You mentioned Estonia’s centennial this year. What is one thing you’d like to share with Americans about Estonia?
Our history. You tend to think history in terms of decades or even centuries. We Estonians have been living on that soil for the past 6,000 years. This gives us a very different perspective to time. I think that’s important. Sometimes it’s very difficult to explain to the kids that we are the natives actually (laughter).
What are some of your hobbies?
I read a lot. I usually read 3-4 books at the same time. Sometimes I cook for fun. The process is kind of experimental and the outcome isn’t always great, but my family has been very supportive so far.
What is something that most people don’t know about you?
I have one of the most lazy dogs (by choice). When our kids were growing up, they really wanted a dog and promised us that they would take care of the dogs, but we all knew that was not going to happen. So finally I decided we would have a dog but that I would decide which one. We have a book in our house on the different kinds of dogs and there’s one chapter called “non-sportive dogs,” so I picked an English Bulldog and I’m very happy with him. He’s a great companion…when he’s awake (laughter).
What are you most proud of?
My kids and wife. I’m proud as a parent and I’m proud to have this kind of family.
The Republic of Estonia will celebrate its 100th anniversary on February 24, 2018. The centenary is marked from April 2017 to February 2020.
This story is part of the @EUintheUS “Ambassador Spotlight Series,” featuring in-depth, personal interviews with ambassadors from the European Union’s 28 Member States. Follow our publication and stay tuned for the next story.
