Estonian to head key EU diplomatic post

TALLINN - Ambassador Aivo Orav, who has led the EU office in Kosovo since 2024, is moving on to head the bloc's delegation in Turkey, one of the EU's most important partner countries and a candidate for membership, reports the daily Postimees.

Before his posting to Kosovo, Orav served as the ambassador leading Estonia's permanent representation to the EU in Brussels. His transfer was announced by Matti Maasikas, the current Deputy Secretary-General of the European External Action Service, who also previously headed Estonia's representation in Brussels.

"Thank you, Aivo Orav, for your excellent work in Kosovo! You will be sorely missed. Congratulations on the new appointment in Turkey, and I look forward to continuing our cooperation - just as we have for decades in various roles. All the best!" Maasikas wrote on the social media platform X.

Turkey will become the fourth EU delegation headed by Orav. He previously served in North Macedonia (2012-2016) and Montenegro (2016-2020).

Orav has also served as Estonia's ambassador to Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Lebanon. He was accredited to Lebanon from 2011 to 2012, a period when Estonia was engaged in rescuing cyclists taken hostage in the Bekaa Valley; the ambassador was resident in Ankara.