Kolbre has accepted the appointment and is expected to begin the job in August, when his term in Brussels is scheduled to end, said Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Anneli Kimber.
Foreign Minister Kristiina Ojuland submitted a proposal this week to make Kolbre the second-in-command at the Foreign Ministry. Kolbre, 46, has been working in the ministry since 1990. He headed the foreign economic policy department until 1993 and then served as deputy chancellor until 1997. He went to Brussels in 1998 to represent Estonia at the European Union.
Ojuland and Kolbre are both on vacation and could not be reached for comment.
Meanwhile Tarand, who was discharged July 23 after a drunk driving arrest and aggressive behavior toward Ojuland, has not decided whether he will appeal the government's decision. Tarand served as the top non-elected official in the Foreign Ministry since February 1994.
"I haven't yet had time to think about it," Tarand told the BNS July 29. He still has 30 days to contest the dismissal in court.
Kimber said she would not speculate on whether a legal challenge from Tarand would disrupt the affairs of the ministry.
"When we get to that point, then we will talk about it," Kimber said.
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