Sven Alkalaj - Biography

Sven Alkalaj (born November 11, 1948) is a Bosnian diplomat who is the Foreign Minister of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Alkalaj, who is of Sephardic ethnicity, is one of the most prominent Bosnian Jews. He is a member of the Party for Bosnia and Herzegovina led by Haris Silajdžić.

Background

Alkalaj was born in Sarajevo and graduated in mechanical engineering at the University of Sarajevo in 1974. He returned to the university in 1987 and earned a degree in economics.

Career

• 2004 – 2007: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the Kingdom of Belgium and Head of Mission of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in Brussels.

• 2000 – 2004: Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the Organization of American States and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the United States of America in Washington DC.

• 1993 – 2000: Ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the United States

• 1988 – 1994: Managing Director of Energoinvest in Bangkok, Thailand.

• 1985 – 1988: Regional Manager for Middle and Far East Energoinvest in Sarajevo.

• 1975 – 1985: Commercial Manager of Petrolinvest in Sarajevo.

Critiscism

Alkalaj has been exposed to harsh criticism and requests for his resignation after it was published that Alkalaj received Croatian citizenship after declaring himself as Croat, Bosnian media reported. On April 2, 2010, during a visit to Dublin for a meeting with the Irish foreign affairs minister Micheál Martin, Alkalaj declared to the press that Serbia should hand over Ratko Mladić to the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia.

Other

Alkalaj is fluent in English and French and has some knowledge of Spanish. He is married and has a daughter from a previous marriage.

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External links

• Official website of the Ministry of Foreign affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina