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Olta Xhaçka

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Olta Xhaçka
Xhaçka in 2018
Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs
In office
4 January 2021 (2021-01-04) – 12 September 2023 (2023-09-12)
PresidentIlir Meta
Prime MinisterEdi Rama
Preceded byEdi Rama
Succeeded byIgli Hasani
34th Defence Minister of Albania
In office
11 September 2017 (2017-09-11) – 31 December 2020 (2020-12-31)
Prime MinisterEdi Rama
Preceded byMimi Kodheli
Succeeded byNiko Peleshi
Minister of Social Welfare and Youth
In office
24 March 2017 (2017-03-24) – 22 May 2017 (2017-05-22)
Prime MinisterEdi Rama
Preceded byBlendi Klosi
Succeeded byXhulieta Kërtusha
Personal details
Born (1979-12-25) 25 December 1979 (age 44)
Tirana, PSR Albania
Political partySocialist Party
Alma materClark University
Signature

Olta Xhaçka (born 25 December 1979) is an Albanian politician and Socialist Party member of Parliament. She served as the minister of Europe and foreign affairs from January 2021 to September 2023. She served as Albanian minister of social welfare and youth between March 2017 to August 2017 and as minister of defense from September 2017 to December 2020.

Education and career

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Xhaçka received a bachelor's in Political Science and International Relations from Clark University with honors, along with an MPA.[1]

Since 2009, Xhaçka is part of the Socialist Party Parliamentary Group, initially as a representative of the region of Korça, throughout two legislatures.

Prior to her engagement into politics, Ms. Xhaçka has been actively involved in civil society, in the field of human rights and good governance. She has also worked for three years as a lecturer of political sciences at the University of New York Tirana.

As an activist of human rights, mainly in the field of gender equality and acting as the Chair of the Socialist Woman's Forum, Ms. Xhaçka, since 2014, has chaired the Minors Issues, Gender Equality and Domestic Violence Sub-committee. She also has been a member of the Work, Social Issues and Health Committee and member of the International Affairs Parliamentary Committee.

Ms. Xhaçka is a member of the Socialist Party Chairmanship and Chair of the Socialist Woman's Forum, since 2010. She also chaired the Qemal Stafa Foundation from 2015 until 2017 upon her appointment in the Albanian government.

Minister of Social Welfare and Youth

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In March 2017, Ms. Xhaçka was appointed Minister of Social Welfare and Youth.[2] She served in this role for only a few months, until the ministry was dissolved in August 2017 and absorbed by other ministries.[3]

Minister of Defence

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Xhaçka with James Mattis.

She was re-elected to parliament in June 2017, this time in Tirana.[4] Her district had the greatest increase in votes for the Socialist Party since the 2013 parliamentary elections of any in Tirana.[5]

In September 2017 she took the office of the Minister of Defence in the 2nd Rama Government, making her the second woman to be appointed to that office after Mimi Kodheli.[6]

In April 2018 she met U.S. Secretary of Defense Jim Mattis at the Pentagon where Mattis reaffirmed "the strong defense relationship between the United States and Albania."[7]

Minister of Foreign Affairs

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In January 2021, Xhacka was appointed as the new Foreign minister of Albania after the resignation of the Acting Minister, Gent Cakaj from the office.[8]

As Foreign Minister, she presided over the resettlement of Afghan refugees into Albania following the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021.[9][10] During her tenure as foreign minister, Albania has also taken a seat on the UN Security Council for the first time in its history.[11]

Personal life

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Xhaçka is married to Artan Gaçi, who also served as a Socialist MP and they have a daughter, Hana.

References

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  1. ^ "time.al – Xhaçka shkëlqen në Tiranë ?shënon rritjen më të lartë për PS – Na ndiqni ne, të ndiqni lajmet" (in Albanian). time.ikub.al. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
  2. ^ "Albanian Premier Replaces 4 Cabinet Ministers". Seattle Times. 13 March 2017. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  3. ^ Mejdini, Fatjona (27 August 2017). "Albania PM Reveals New Cabinet". Balkan Insight. Retrieved 21 March 2018.
  4. ^ "38 Female MPs in Albania's New Parliament". albaniannews.com. Archived from the original on 27 June 2017. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
  5. ^ "Shqiptarja.com – Xhaçka shkëlqen në Tiranë shënon rritjen më të lartë për PS – Video" (in Albanian). shqiptarja.com. Retrieved 25 July 2017.
  6. ^ "Albanian PM introduces new cabinet for next four years". Xinhua News Agency. 27 August 2018. Archived from the original on 27 August 2017.
  7. ^ "Mattis Reaffirms U.S. Albanian Defense Relationship". defense.gov. 17 April 2018.
  8. ^ Thobejane, Lethebo (5 January 2021). ""I will reform the diplomatic service" – Albanian foreign minister Olta Xhaçka takes office". Latest News South Africa. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
  9. ^ Higgins, Andrew (13 September 2021). "From Taliban Terror to Beach Resort: A Strange Journey for Some Refugees". The New York Times.
  10. ^ "EU Ambassador Praises Albania for Taking in Afghan Refugees". exit.al. 26 August 2021. Archived from the original on 26 August 2021.
  11. ^ "Albania in the Security Council 2022 – 2023". Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs.
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Olta Xhaçka.
Political offices
Preceded by Minister of Social Welfare and Youth of Albania
2017 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister of Defense of Albania
2017–2020 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister of Europe and Foreign Affairs of Albania
2021–present 		Incumbent
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