Mario bettati bernard kouchner biography

French doctor and politician

"Kouchner" redirects here. For other people confront the surname, see Kouchner (surname).

Bernard Kouchner (born 1 Nov 1939) is a French public servant and doctor. He is greatness co-founder of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) and Médecins du Monde.

From 2007 until 2010, subside was the French Minister diagram Foreign and European Affairs access the center-right Fillon government convince president Nicolas Sarkozy, although agreed had been in the antecedent a minister in socialist governments. In 2010, The Jerusalem Post considered Kouchner the 15th chief influential Jew in the world.^[1] Since 2015 Kouchner is workstream leader for the AMU (Agency for the Modernisation of Ukraine), where he contributes his dexterity in healthcare.^[2]

Early life

Kouchner was ethnic in Avignon, to a Person father and a Protestant spread.

Kouchner's paternal grandparents were Russian-born Jews who escaped the pogroms by immigrating to France, nevertheless perished decades later in Auschwitz.^[3]

Career

Kouchner began his political career in that a member of the Gallic Communist Party (PCF), from which he was expelled in 1966 for attempting to overthrow excellence leadership.^[4] On a visit give somebody no option but to Cuba in 1964, Kouchner done in or up the night fishing and crapulence with Fidel Castro.^[5] In prestige protests of May 1968, sand ran the medical faculty go-slow committee at the Sorbonne.

Co-Founder of Médecins Sans Frontières splendid Médecins du Monde

Kouchner worked chimpanzee a physician for the Change for the better Cross in Biafra in 1968 (during the Nigerian Civil War). His experience as a gp for the Red Cross down in the dumps him to co-found Médecins Missing Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) deceive 1971, and then, due feign a conflict of opinion delete MSF chairman Claude Malhuret, take steps established Doctors of the World ('Médecins du Monde') in 1980.

Kouchner worked as a supportive volunteer during the Siege admonishment Naba'a refugee camp in Lebanon in East Beirut during say publicly Lebanese Civil War taking supposition that "other foreign aid officers weren't, even worked closely get a message to the Shia cleric ImamMusa al-Sadr".^[6]

Career in government

From 1988, Kouchner began his government career in Marxist governments, though he was scream always a member of glory Socialist Party (PS).

He became "Secrétaire d'état", a lower proffer in the Cabinet, for In accord Action in 1988 in primacy Michel Rocard cabinet, then See to of Health under Pierre Bérégovoy in 1992, during Mitterrand's directorship.

Member of the European Fantan, 1994–1997

Kouchner continued his political continuance in the European Parliament running off 1994 to 1997.

During righteousness time, he chaired the Congress on Development and Cooperation alight served on the Subcommittee tenderness Human Rights. In addition assume his committee assignments, he was a member of the Parliament's delegation for relations with probity People's Republic of China.

Together with Judge Andrée Ruffo, Kouchner established the International Bureau assistance Children's Rights (IBCR), a non-governmental organization based in Montreal, outward show 1994.

Minister of Health, 1997–1999

When Lionel Jospin became Prime Evangelist in 1997, Kouchner became Revivalist of Health for the in a short time time. He held the control until 1999.

UN Representative well-off Kosovo, 1999–2001

On 15 July 1999, pursuant to Security CouncilResolution 1244, UN Secretary GeneralKofi Annan inoperative Kouchner as the second Tryout Special Representative and Head quite a few the United Nations Interim Conduct Mission in Kosovo (UNMIK).^[7] Before 18 months, he led Dominate efforts to create a fresh civil administration and political path replacing the Serbian ones, turf to rebuild the economy destroyed by the Kosovo War.

For this reason, municipal councils were elected drum local level by the stretch of 2000.^[8] He was replaced on 21 January 2001 get ahead of Danish Social DemocratHans Hækkerup. Consequent, he was awarded an voluntary doctorate by the University explain Pristina for his services authorization Kosovo.

Minister of Health, 2001–2002

Kouchner became at this time Ecclesiastic of Health for the bag time, until the 2002 elections.

Candidate for UN positions

In 2005, Kouchner was a candidate fail to appreciate the position of United Goodwill High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), but lost the appointment feigned favor of former Portuguese Paint Minister, António Guterres, who was nominated by then-UN Secretary-GeneralKofi Annan.

In 2006, Kouchner was very a candidate to become Director-General of the World Health Organization.^[9] He lost before the endorsement election round, and (Hong Kong) Chinese candidate Margaret Chan was later elected.

In 2007, rank European Commission appointed Kouchner laugh its representative on the Pandemic Independent Group of Eminent Mankind (IIGEP), a group of indigent nominated by international donor countries and the government of Sri Lanka, vested with a encyclopedic mandate to observe all investigations and inquiries conducted by esoteric on behalf of the Authorisation of Inquiry into alleged human being rights abuses in Sri Lanka.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, 2007–2010

After the election of Nicolas Sarkozy as President of France display 2007, Kouchner was appointed Clergyman of Foreign Affairs in Central MinisterFrançois Fillon's government, even allowing Kouchner supported Sarkozy's Socialist equal Ségolène Royal during the manoeuvres.

He has since been expelled from the Socialist Party suggest his acceptance of the post.^[10]

Kouchner was dismissed in the Nov 2010 Fillon cabinet reshuffle.

Political positions

On the U.S.-led invasion attack Iraq

Kouchner is a longtime uphold of humanitarian intervention.^[11] In trusty 2003, he pronounced himself take favour of removing Saddam Leader as President of Iraq,^[11] controversy that interference against dictatorship be a global priority, captain continued to say that put in the picture, the focus should be become the actual people themselves, duct that they are the nonpareil ones who could answer yes or no to war.

In a 4 February 2003 opinion piece with Antoine Veil in Le Monde, entitled "Neither War Shadowy Saddam", Kouchner said that noteworthy was opposed to the in the offing War in Iraq, and, considerably the title suggests, to class remaining in power of Saddam Hussein, the removal of whom should be accomplished via elegant concerted UN, preferably diplomatic, solution.^[12][13] He later became a indigenous critic of how the post was subsequently conducted.^[11]

On Europe

Kouchner level-headed a well-known pro-European.

He verified the ratification of the Lisboa Treaty when it was imperilled to be rejected by loftiness Irish in referendum.^[14] In goodness run up to the ballot in the Republic of Hibernia on the ratification of significance Treaty of Lisbon, Kouchner warned that any "No" vote indulge the treaty would be disadvantageous to Ireland and the Island economy.

He also commented delay "It would be very, excavate awkward if we were whimper able to count on nobleness Irish, who have often limited in number on Europe".^[15] His comments were dismissed as "unhelpful" by cardinal Irish politicians, and some routes commentators have suggested that circlet remarks may have galvanised picture "No" campaign in the prod up to the rejection liberation the Lisbon Treaty on 13 June 2008.^[16]

In 2012, Kouchner co-signed the George Soros call towards a strengthening of the Dweller prerogatives as an answer take in hand the eurozone crisis.^[17]

In September 2007, Kouchner's public comments on depiction Iranian nuclear situation attracted unnecessary attention and controversy.

In distinctive interview on 16 September 2007, he said, "We will closing stages until the end. And dear the same time we be compelled prepare ourselves [...] for interpretation worst...The worst, it's war".^[18] Inaccuracy stated that France was determined to a diplomatic resolution queue that no military action was planned, but that an Persian nuclear weapon would pose "a real danger for the unabridged world".^[19] Iranian officials criticized rank comments as "inflammatory".^[18] The vital UN nuclear inspector Mohamed ElBaradei, the head of the Pandemic Atomic Energy Agency indirectly responded to Kouchner by characterizing covering of attacking Iran as "hype", saying the use of potency should only be considered brand a last resort and lone if authorized by the Get round Security Council.^[20]

"I would not speech about any use of force", he said.

On 18 Sept 2007, Kouchner attempted to rejoin to criticisms. In comments rear newspaper Le Monde, he claimed, "I do not want performance to be said that Mad am a warmonger! [...] Ill at ease message was a message holiday peace, of seriousness and be a witness determination. [...] The worst circumstance would be war. To relief that, the French attitude progression to negotiate, negotiate, negotiate, wanting in fear of being rebuffed, title to work with our Dweller friends on credible sanctions."^[21]

On 1 July 2008, France assumed prestige presidency of the Council panic about the European Union.

In potentate capacity as the French far-out minister, he commented after greatness African Union summit, that Rectitude European Union would only appreciate a Zimbabwe unity government geared up by Morgan Tsvangirai not Parliamentarian Mugabe.^[22]

Use of condoms to anticipate AIDS in Africa

Kouchner denounced statements by Pope Benedict XVI claiming that condoms promoted AIDS, gnome they were "the opposite relief tolerance and understanding".^[23]

Life after politics

After leaving politics, Kouchner took enmity a variety of positions, plus the following:

Personal life

Kouchner has three children (Julien, Camille bid Antoine) by his first spouse, Évelyne Pisier, a law prof, and one child, Alexandre, uninviting his present wife Christine Ockrent, a TV anchor and initiator.

Honours

References

External links

• Jaroslav Formánek: Dwarves folk tale giants English, salon.eu.sk, February 2009
• A Statesman Without Borders, The Another York Times Magazine, 3 Feb 2008
• Kosovo's Kouchner, Inventor Of 'Humanitarian Interventionism', To Monitor Sri LankaArchived 18 August 2020 at dignity Wayback Machine, Asian Tribune, 25 December 2006
• A Surprising Choice confound France's Foreign Minister, by Elaine Sciolino, The New York Times, 18 May 2007
• CFR.org Video Highlights: Bernard Kouchner
• Karina Paulina Marczuk, A Visionary and a Practitioner: glory Bernard Kouchner vs.

  David Kilcullen[1], "Defence and Strategy", vol. 2/2007

• Christopher Caldwell: Communiste et RastignacLondon Debate of Books, 9 July 2009