Interview appeared in Russian-language Postimees on May 9, 2008. To see the original article, click here.

Ambassador Phillips: Everything Will Change Soon

by Ksenia Repson
Photo: Liis Treimann

The current ambassador of the United States of America in Estonia Stanley Davis Phillips, in comparison with the Embassy of the United States of America which is situated on the Kentmanni street in Tallinn, is not at all inaccessible, Ksenia Repson writes.

You can meet this cheerful, fascinating person, who just loves his life, at a good concert, an exhibition, in a restaurant. His most recent public appearances were with his wife on May 1 at the American Car show in Old Town square and at the recent and wonderful concert of the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra. And also participated in the clean-up campaign “Let's do it!” on May 3.

He arranges receptions, communicates freely with the press, has a deep interest in cultural life, including, of course, his interest in politics as well – it is his profession. “I like to be with people, like to communicate” – he said about himself.

New image

Ambassador Phillips, after his arrival in Estonia, suspected that the closing of [Kentmanni] street for security reasons would have brought a lot of discomfort to the inhabitants of Tallinn. But after questioning the [Embassy's] neighbors it seemed that the absolute opposite was true – they are grateful for the watchfulness of the [Embassy's] security guards, and nowadays, it is probably the quietest street in town.

However, after a recent discussion of the image of the American Embassy in another country, which was held in the [U.S.] Senate, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rise promised to improve the image of the U.S. embassies abroad and make them “more friendly” for visitors.

“Soon, everything will change. When I was visiting the U.S., I saw designs of the new buildings, especially designed for embassies.” Ambassador Phillips went on to confirm that the Embassy is already looking for a place to build a new building, which is going to be just as open and accessible as he is.

Man and women

Life surrounded by women brings Ambassador Phillips boundless pleasure. His four daughters Lil, Kate, Bo, and Lucy call their parents a minimum of once a week telling him about how things are going. As Ambassador Phillips said, there are very trusting relations between children and parents in the family. “I assume that sons are not as caring and always thinking about their parents as daughters usually do,” he said.

And about his wife Kay, he says repeatedly that she is his real support in life. According to the Ambassador's words, this woman is not afraid of new challenges, likes adventure, takes part in charity work, and always supports him.

A Person Among People

“You know, my wife reminded me about my birthday this week, women usually care more about such kinds of things than men. We like to watch movies, my wife, as a majority of women, likes romantic movies, for men, its evident, action is better. This time she told me since it was my birthday – I get to choose the movie. And then we also decide to go out and have pizza, we will just spend the day together, only the two of us,” Ambassador Phillips described how he plans to spend the coming Sunday, May 11 [,his birthday.]

Certainly, his daughters about whom Ambassador speaks with a great pleasure, will congratulate him as well. According to words of a father who has lots of children, his daughters grew up to be independent and free young women who live in big cities and are oriented towards personal and career growth. “It is important for modern women to realize themselves,” says a father who understands his daughters' efforts.

Ambassador Phillips is not a diplomat by profession, but he has learned all the niceties of communication, making useful contacts, and making a good impression about himself for his entire life, running a large-scale business in America and also taking political positions in his home state of North Carolina.

He considers diplomacy as being more demanding than business, but representing America in Estonia and being an American himself is a matter of pride. “This last year serving as Ambassador I consider as the year which has brought me the greatest challenges in my life as well as the greatest satisfaction,” he said.

There is Always Something to Learn

Before coming to Estonia, Ambassador Phillips knew about the country everything that it was necessary for an Ambassador to know at the beginning of his tour: all the historical, geographical, and political background information.

However, the dramatic history of inhabitants of our country, their tragedy, which affected every family living on the territory of Estonia, regardless of their nationality and views, he understood only after he arrived here.

Nowadays, the Ambassador observes how Estonia is happy that it became free and is determined to living well through the development of capitalism.

“The United States has some things to learn from Estonia,” the Ambassador is sure. “E-commerce, electronic voting – it is a big deal!” The history of the cyber attacks on Estonia covered the front pages of American newspapers as well. At the time, the whole world got to learn about how well developed our country is in the sphere of information technology.

Concerning diplomatic relations, one of the most important questions at the present time is visa relations between the EU (including Estonia) and the USA. The Ambassador considers the simplification of procedures as an event that will take place in the nearest future.

Diplomatic Service

“For Estonia and all the Baltic States these days, the most important [issue] is the safety and supply of energy which will also help to create new jobs,” he explains.

The Ambassador is so optimistic that he thinks that a world without terrorism is possible. The presence of peacemaking troops in Iran and Afghanistan is, in the Ambassador's words an international duty and an appropriate measure that we have to take for the sake of the future.

History, according to his words, sometimes takes incredible turns and, who knows, maybe one day an era without violent aggression will come.

Stanley Davis Phillips

Born in High Point in the state of North Carolina.

He attended Choate Rosemary Hall in Wallingford, Connecticut and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

He and his wife Kay have four grown daughters: Lil, Kate, Bo, and Lucy.

Received his assignment on April 16, 2007, at a ceremony at the State Department in Washington, D.C.

A businessman, civic leader, and former senior state official in North Carolina, he brings a wealth of experience to his service as President Bush's personal representative to the Republic of Estonia.

He presented his credentials to Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves on May 31, 2007.

Ambassador Phillips served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Phillips Industries, Inc., and as a partner in the Market Square Partnership.

In 1961, he participated in one of the first student exchange programs between the United States and the Soviet Union, attending Moscow State University. He traveled extensively through Russia, Ukraine, Georgia, and Poland.

More recently, he led a trip to India where he met with the Dalai Lama in the Himalayas.


Source: The U.S. Embassy in Estonia

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