Ilir Bocka

Who is Ilir Bocka?

Ilir Boçka is an Albanian career diplomat. His last post was as Charge D’affaires of the Republic of Albania in New Delhi, India, where he oversaw the establishment of the first Albanian embassy in the country. He served as Ambassador of the Albanian Mission to NATO and as the Representative of Republic of Albania to Euro-Atlantic Partnership Council from November 2000 until July 2007. During the period May 1998 – August 2000 he was appointed as Deputy Minister of Defense, responsible most particularly for Albania’s Euro-Atlantic Integration and the country's preparations for NATO membership. During the previous years, from 1972 to 1980, Ilir Boçka worked as journalist with the Albanian News Agency. Ilir Boçka joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in June 1981, when he was appointed as the Head of the Press and Information Directory at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. During the period from 1986 until 1990, Ilir Bocka served as the last Albanian Ambassador to the former German Democratic Republic. After the democratic changes during the period from June 1991 to December 1991, he was appointed as Deputy Minister in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In the first free elections held in Albania he was appointed as Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Provisional Government. From 1992 to 1997 he worked as a lawyer and adviser of National and International Law for the private sector. From October 1997 until May 1998 Mr. Boçka served as the Director of Information and Media Department at the Prime Minister’s Office.