Page 28 - Tallinn University

PRofESSoR reinmüllerson:
an estonian
ANDACItIZENoftHEwoRlD
research professor of Tallinn University, rEIN MüllErsON, was elected the President of the Institute of International law (geneva) last autumn in Japan. as he is the only Estonian belonging to this distinguished organisation, his position carries significant recognition for Estonia. rein Müllerson seems to be tireless, he has many good ideas and is influential in several countries at the same time.
yoU HAVE BEEN CoNNECtED wItH tAllINN UNIVERSIty SINCE 2009 - wHAt kEEPS yoU HERE?
They used to have a law in England which prohibited working in certain specialisations after the age of 65. For example, judges had to take forced retirement after reaching that age. So I came to Estonia and I like Tallinn University
a lot. There is more freedom here than in the University of Tartu. Perhaps some confusion comes along with it, but even this is interesting. However, there cannot be too much disorder.
ARE yoU moRE AN EStoNIAN oR A
CItIZEN of tHE woRlD?
One does not exclude the other. As an academic I believe that one must have several points of reference. At the end of the 1980s I became more seriously involved in international law and
rein MüllersOn
visited America many times. I was very surprised at their mentality at that time. I was not afraid
to give constructive criticism regarding both Estonian and Russian foreign policy. Perhaps that is the reason why people ask my advice.
yoU wERE AlSo A StUDENt yoURSElf
Not So loNG AGo?
Yes, the President of the Institute of International Law has to make speeches in two languages, English and French. Therefore I took French language lessons at Tallinn University Language Centre for a year.
I used to speak French well at some point, but during the time I worked in London my French got a bit rusty. In one year I restored the language I studied 30 years ago and now I speak at inter- national conferences in French.