So, Van Loan is "Half Estonian by birth, but full Estonian by upbringing, though he doesn't speak the language."

What's it take to qualify as a "full Estonian"?

Let's have some accuracy in reporting, Mr. Raudkivi.
I don't doubt that Leivat and Kittask congratulated our "full Estonian" Van Loan who can't speak Estonian for his promotion in Parliament.
I do doubt that anybody in Estonia congratulated him. I also doubt that anyone in Estonia has even heard his name.
Please prove me wrong, Mr. Raudkivi, by naming one.

Why such a poisonous approach to good news. Obviously Van Loan is not a household name in Estonia, but that doesn't mean that he hasn't lobbied on behalf of Estonia - on the question of human rights violation during the Soviet occupation period whren he was a political activist and not yet elected, on the question of visa free travel to Canada the past several years. He has also promoted closer Estonian-Canadian relations since becoming a parlamentarian.

If a journalist strives for accuracy, he will be fair -- two important goals with one effort.

I am quite happy to learn that Mr. Van Loan was chosen as the new Parliamentary Secretary for Canada's Foreign Affairs Ministry. I have no doubt he will spread enlightenment, gained to some degree through the values of nature-loving gentle Estonians in Canada. But I would hesitate to call his upbringing a "full" Estonian one if it doesn't include the Estonian language, no matter how much rasolje he has eaten..
Mare Tiido
P.S. Why don't we just open up a recruiting office.