SIIM KALLAS Born: October 2, 1948; Tallinn, Estonia Mr Siim Kallas graduated cum laude from the Finance and Credit Department of University of Tartu in 1972. He continued his studies as a post-graduate student until 1975 and is now a Visiting Professor at the University of Tartu. Mr. Kallas is one of the most popular politicians in Estonia and one of the most well known Estonian politicians abroad. He has been actively participating in restoration of the Estonian statehood and has served as a Prime Minister, Minister of Finance, Minister of Foreign Affairs and President of the Central Bank. He has been elected to the Estonian Parliament three times. He is the Chairman of the Reform Party (liberals) since its creation in 1994. Currently Mr. Kallas is a Member of the Estonian Parliament. In late 1980s Mr. Kallas was actively presenting the first ideas of the Estonian economic independency. He was one of the ideologists of this new thinking and gave invaluable input to the basis of the Estonian economic environment. In 1991 Siim Kallas was nominated as the President of the Bank of Estonia. He was one of the main architects of the Estonian monetary reform in 1992, when Estonia adopted its national currency pegging it to the German mark, using currency board mechanism. Mr. Kallas was behind this very bold and unconventional move, which today serves as an excellent example for all the transitional economies and the Estonian public regards him as “the father of the Estonian kroon”. The currency board was paired with conservative monetary policy and tight fiscal policy, which has been the main basis for the Estonian economic environment. Mr. Kallas has been the main defender of these principles and a loud advocate for the balanced budget policy in Estonia. These elements have remained as the main basis for the Estonian economic policy and Mr. Kallas has been one of the key persons to shape that environment. In 1994 Mr. Kallas founded Reform Party (liberals) and was elected the Chairman of the Party. The Party has constantly enjoyed the support of 20% of the electorate. The Reform Party presents liberal-democratic ideology and is a member of the Liberal International. In 1995 Mr Kallas was elected to the Estonian Parliament and later that year became the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Mr. Kallas was one of the first architects of the Estonian European policy. He was the Minister at the time when Estonia applied for the membership in the European Union. During that period Estonia laid down its EU co- ordination structures and worked out the first Action Plan for the EU membership. The role of Mr. Kallas in that process was invaluable. In 1999 Mr. Kallas was elected the second time to the Estonian Parliament and was appointed as the Minister of Finance. He served there three years. During that period he introduced the principle of zero rate for corporate taxation on reinvested earnings to the income tax legislation. This has been a very successful instrument and increased the interest of investors towards Estonia. This move can also serve as an example for other economies. As a minister Mr. Kallas was closely involved in the EU accession negotiations, in particular in the monetary and financial aspects. In 2002 Mr Kallas became the Prime Minister of Estonia and served until the elections in 2003. He was the Prime Minister at the time when Estonia was invited to join NATO and concluded successfully the accession negotiations with EU. Mr. Kallas was very heavily involved in these negotiations and his ability to find the best compromises made it possible for Estonia for a successful closure of the negotiations. In 2003 Mr. Kallas was elected to the Estonian Parliament, where he is a Member of the Foreign Affairs Committee. Mr. Kallas has also many voluntary duties. He is a President of the Estonian Cyclists Union and also a devoted cyclist. In addition to that Mr Kallas is very interested in literature, theatre and music and enjoys playing tennis. He has also written numerous articles mainly about economy, foreign policy and politics. His selected articles have also been published as a book. Mr. Kallas is married and has two grown-up children. Mr Kallas is proficient in English, Finnish and Russian. He is studying French. * * * Mr. Kallas career in details: 2003 – Member of Parliament 2002- 2003 Prime Minister of the Republic of Estonia 1999-2002 Minister of Finance of the Republic of Estonia 1995-1999 Member of Parliament and the Defence Committee of the Parliament 1995-1996 Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Estonia 1991-1995 President of the Bank of Estonia 1989-1991 Chairman of the Estonian Central Association of Trade Unions 1986-1989 Deputy Editor of Estonian daily newspaper “Rahva Hääl” 1979-1986 Director of the Estonian Central Board of Savings Banks 1975-1979 Specialist at the Finance Ministry of the Estonian Soviet Socialist Republic .