[1][2] The Alkalaj are a prominent Bosnian Jewish family, who settled in Sarajevo over 500 years ago when they fled the Spanish Inquisition.

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 taken Croatian citizenship in 2006 based upon his mother's lineage.

[1] He was later charged by prosecutors in a case before the Court of Bosnia and Herzegovina with misconduct in his office as Minister of Foreign Affairs, related to his "signing off on a cash award of 13,418.59 KM to 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 the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) in Geneva.

[6] On 5 July 2019, Alkalaj was appointed by Bosnian Presidency member Željko Komšić as a Permanent Representative of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the United Nations in New York City.