Jump to content

Sven Alkalaj

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sven Alkalaj
Alkalaj in 2012
Bosnia and Herzegovina Ambassador to the United States
Incumbent
Assumed office
30 June 2023
Preceded byBojan Vujić
In office
23 June 1994 – 14 June 2000
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded byIgor Davidović
Permanent Representative of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the United Nations
In office
5 July 2019 – 20 June 2023
Preceded byIvica Dronjić
Succeeded byZlatko Lagumdžija
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office
11 January 2007 – 12 January 2012
Prime MinisterNikola Špirić
Preceded byMladen Ivanić
Succeeded byZlatko Lagumdžija
Additional positions
Executive Secretary of UNECE
In office
8 March 2012 – 8 April 2014
Preceded byJán Kubiš
Succeeded byChristian Friis Bach
Personal details
Born(1948-11-11)11 November 1948(age 75)
Sarajevo,PR Bosnia and Herzegovina,FPR Yugoslavia
NationalityBosnian
Political partyParty for Bosnia and Herzegovina
Alma materUniversity of Sarajevo

Sven Alkalaj(Bosnian pronunciation:[sʋêːnâlkalaj];born 11 November 1948) is a Bosniandiplomatwho has served asBosnia and Herzegovina ambassador to the United Statessince June 2023. He previously served as thePermanent Representative of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the United Nationsfrom 2019 to 2023. Alkalaj also served as the country'sMinister of Foreign Affairsfrom 2007 until 2012. He held the post ofexecutive secretary of UNECEbetween 2012 and 2014 as well.

Alkalaj served as the first Bosnia and Herzegovina ambassador to the United States from 1994 to 2000. He is one of the most prominentBosnian JewsofSephardicorigin and has been a longtime member of theParty for Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Early life and education

[edit]

Alkalaj was born to aSephardic Jewishfather and aBosnian CroatCatholicmother.[1][2]The Alkalaj are a prominentBosnian Jewishfamily, who settled inSarajevoover 500 years ago when they fled theSpanish Inquisition.[3]He was raised Jewish.[4][3]

Alkalaj graduated inmechanical engineeringfrom theUniversity of Sarajevoin 1974. He returned to the university and in 1987 earned a degree in international relations and economics, with a focus on Latin America.[5]

In 2016, he was awarded aPhDin International Relations and International Law by theUniversity of Travnik,with a dissertation on the "Policy of the United Nations Security Council in the Process of International Recognition and Peace-Building in Bosnia and Herzegovina (1992–2010)".[5]

Managerial career

[edit]

From 1975 until 1985, Alkalaj worked at Petrolinvest as a commercial manager inSarajevo.He would later work atEnergoinvest,initially as a regional manager for the Middle and Far East in Sarajevo from 1985 until 1988, and then as a managing director inBangkok,Thailandfrom 1988 until 1994.[5]

Diplomatic career

[edit]
Alkalaj alongside U.S. Vice PresidentJoe BideninSarajevo,19 May 2009

Following thebreakup of Yugoslaviaand theindependence of Bosnia and Herzegovinain 1992, from 23 June 1994 until 14 June 2000, Alkalaj served as the firstAmbassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the United StatesinWashington, D.C.,also accredited to theOrganization of American Statesfrom 2000 to 2003.[6]In 1999, Alkalaj also attended the Executive Development Program and Corporate Finance Program ofHarvard University's Graduate School of Business Administration.[5]

From 2004 until 2007, Alkalaj was posted inBrusselsas the Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina toBelgiumand the Head of Mission of Bosnia and Herzegovina to theNorth Atlantic Treaty Organization(NATO).[6]

From 11 January 2007 until 12 January 2012, Alkalaj served asMinister of Foreign Affairsin thefirstandsecond cabinetsofNikola Špirić,representing theParty for Bosnia and Herzegovina(SBiH), then led byHaris Silajdžić.As Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alkalaj was criticised and even his resignation was demanded in 2007 after it was published in Bosnian media that he had takenCroatian citizenshipin 2006 based upon his mother's lineage.[1]He was later charged by prosecutors in a case before theCourt of Bosnia and Herzegovinawith misconduct in his office as Minister of Foreign Affairs, related to his "signing off on a cash award of 13,418.59KMto his then deputy Ana Trišić-Babić for her work at the Council of Ministers NATO coordination team. "[7]

From 8 March 2012 to 8 April 2014, Alkalaj was the executive secretary of theUnited Nations Economic Commission for Europe(UNECE) inGeneva.[8]

He also served as a visiting professor at the Geneva School of Diplomacy and International Relations between 2015 and 2019, as well as an assistant professor at theUniversity of Travnikfrom 2016 until 2017.[6]

On 5 July 2019, Alkalaj was appointed byBosnian PresidencymemberŽeljko Komšićas aPermanent Representative of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the United NationsinNew York City.[6]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ab"Ministar VP neće glasati na izborima u Hrvatskoj"(in Croatian).Nacional.5 November 2007.Retrieved18 December2016.
  2. ^Rose, Jasmina (30 June 2009)."Bosni je potrebna EU i Amerika"(in Croatian).Deutsche Welle.Retrieved4 July2013.
  3. ^abFranklin, Stephen (8 April 1995)."Jews, Muslims Come Together For Bosnia".Chicago Tribune.Retrieved4 July2013.
  4. ^Perelman, Marc (10 October 2007)."Divided Bosnia Puts Forward a Jewish Face".The Forward.Retrieved4 July2013.
  5. ^abcdBiH Mission to the UN,CV
  6. ^abcdNew Permanent Representative of Bosnia and Herzegovina Presents Credentials,5 July 2019
  7. ^"Indictment against Sven Alkalaj Confirmed".Cin.ba.14 April 2015.Retrieved19 December2016.
  8. ^"EXCOM welcomes Executive Secretary".UNECE.
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related toSven Alkalaj.
Political offices
Preceded by Minister of Foreign Affairs
2007–2012 		Succeeded by
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by Permanent Representative of
Bosnia and Herzegovina to the United Nations
2019–2023 		Succeeded by
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Sven_Alkalaj&oldid=1212946517"