Bernard Kouchner
Minister of Foreign Affairs
In office 17 May 2007 – present
Prime Minister	François Fillon
Preceded by	Philippe Douste-Blazy
Succeeded by	Incumbent
Minister of Health
In office 6 February 2001 – 7 May 2002
Prime Minister	Lionel Jospin
Preceded by	Dominique Gillot
Succeeded by	Jean-François Mattéi
In office 4 June 1997 – 7 July 1999
Prime Minister	Lionel Jospin
Preceded by	Jacques Barrot
Succeeded by	Dominique Gillot
In office 2 April 1992 – 29 March 1993
Prime Minister	Pierre Bérégovoy
Preceded by	Claude Evin
Succeeded by	Simone Veil
Born	November 01, 1939 (1939-11-01) (age 68) Avignon, France
Political party	Excluded from the French Socialist Party for joining the UMP government in May 2007
Spouse	Christine Ockrent
Profession	Medical Doctor

Bernard Kouchner (born November 1, 1939 in Avignon) is a French politician, diplomat, and doctor. He is co-founder of Doctors Without Borders (MSF) and Doctors of the World. He is currently the French minister of Foreign and European Affairs in the Fillon government, although he was considered in the past as a left politician. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... The honour entrance to the Ministry building on the Quai dOrsay The Minister of Foreign Affairs, in the Government of France, is the cabinet member responsible for the Republics network of relationships with foreign nations. ... is the 137th day of the year (138th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... This does not cite any references or sources. ... Philippe Douste-Blazy at the United Nations summit on September 16, 2005 Philippe Douste-Blazy (b. ... The Minister of Health and Solidarity is a cabinet member in in the Government of France responsible for overseeing Frances massive healthcare system (including universal healthcare), family services and services to the handicapped/differently-abled. ... is the 37th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2001 (MMI) was a common year starting on Monday (link displays the 2001 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 127th day of the year (128th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ... Lionel Robert Jospin (born July 12, 1937 in Meudon, a suburb of Paris) is a French statesman who served as Prime Minister of France from 1997-2002. ... is the 155th day of the year (156th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the band, see 1997 (band). ... is the 188th day of the year (189th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year. ... Lionel Robert Jospin (born July 12, 1937 in Meudon, a suburb of Paris) is a French statesman who served as Prime Minister of France from 1997-2002. ... Jacques Barrot Jacques Barrot (born 3 February 1937 in Yssingeaux, Haute-Loire) is a French politician, currently serving as European Commissioner for Transport. ... is the 92nd day of the year (93rd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... is the 88th day of the year (89th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... Pierre Eugène Bérégovoy (December 23, 1925 - May 1, 1993) was a French Socialist politician of russian origin. ... Simone Veil Simone Veil (born Simone Annie Jacob, July 13, 1927) is a French lawyer and politician who currently serves as a member of the Constitutional Council of France. ... November 1 is the 305th day of the year (306th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 60 days remaining. ... Year 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... City flag City coat of arms Location Coordinates Time Zone CET (GMT +1) Administration Country France Région Provence-Alpes-Côte dAzur Département Vaucluse (préfecture) Arrondissement Avignon Canton Chief town of 4 cantons Intercommunality Communauté dagglomération du Grand Avignon Mayor Marie-Josée Roig... The emblem of the French Socialist Party The Socialist Party (Parti Socialiste or PS), founded in 1969, is the main opposition party in France. ... The Union for a Popular Movement (Union pour un Mouvement Populaire, UMP), is the main French centre-right political party. ... Christine Ockrent (born April 24, 1944) is a Belgian journalist. ... The word physician should not be confused with physicist, which means a scientist in the area of physics. ... is the 305th day of the year (306th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1939 (MCMXXXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... City flag City coat of arms Location Coordinates Time Zone CET (GMT +1) Administration Country France Région Provence-Alpes-Côte dAzur Département Vaucluse (préfecture) Arrondissement Avignon Canton Chief town of 4 cantons Intercommunality Communauté dagglomération du Grand Avignon Mayor Marie-Josée Roig... The Politics series Politics Portal This box:      A politician is an individual who is a formally recognized and active member of a government, or a person who influences the way a society is governed through an understanding of political power and group dynamics. ... This article is about negotiations. ... Médecins Sans Frontières (abbreviated MSF; known as Doctors Without Borders in the United States, as Médicos Sin Fronteras in the Spanish language and as Médicos Sem Fronteiras in Portuguese language) is a nonprofit private organisation created in 1971 by a small group of French doctors led... Médecins du monde (MDM), also known as Doctors of the World, is a non-governmental humanitarian aid organisation created in march 1980 by 15 French doctors, including Bernard Kouchner after he had left Médecins sans frontières (MSF, Doctors Without Borders), the aid society which he had founded... The honour entrance to the Ministry building on the Quai dOrsay The Minister of Foreign Affairs, in the Government of France, is the cabinet member responsible for the Republics network of relationships with foreign nations. ... This does not cite any references or sources. ...

Humanitarian Actions

Born to a Jewish father and a Protestant mother, he began his political career as a member of the French Communist Party (PCF), from which he was expelled in 1966. He worked as a physician for the Red Cross in Biafra in 1968 (during the Nigerian Civil War). He founded MSF in 1971, and then, due to a conflict of opinion with MSF chairman Claude Malhuret, the Doctors of the World ('Médecins du Monde') in 1980. Kouchner worked as a humanitarian volunteer during the Siege of Naba’a refugee camp in Lebanon in East Beirut during the Lebanese Civil War taking risks that "other foreign aid workers weren’t, even worked closely with the Shia cleric Imam Musa al-Sadr."[2] The word Jew ( Hebrew: יהודי) is used in a wide number of ways, but generally refers to a follower of the Jewish faith, a child of a Jewish mother, or someone of Jewish descent with a connection to Jewish culture or ethnicity and often a combination... Protestantism is a general grouping of denominations within Christianity. ... This does not cite any references or sources. ... Year 1966 (MCMLXVI) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar) of the 1966 Gregorian calendar. ... The Anarchist Black Cross was originally called the Anarchist Red Cross. The band Redd Kross was originally called Red Cross. This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... National motto: Peace, Unity, Freedom Official language English Capital Enugu Head of State Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Area ?- Total ?- % water Population;- Total 13,500,000 (1967) Currency Biafran pound (BIAP) Created May 30, 1967 Dissolved January 15, 1970 Demonym Biafran The Republic of Biafra was a short-lived secessionist state in... Year 1968 (MCMLXVIII) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Combatants Nigerian federal government Republic of Biafra Commanders Yakubu Gowon Odumegwu Ojukwu Casualties 200,000 soldiers and civilians Estimated 1,000,000 soldiers and civilians The Nigerian Civil War, also known as the Biafran War, July 6, 1967 – January 13, 1970, was a political conflict caused by the attempted secession... Year 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar) of the 1971 Gregorian calendar. ... Claude Malhuret is the mayor of Vichy, France. ... Médecins du monde (MDM), also known as Doctors of the World, is a non-governmental humanitarian aid organisation created in march 1980 by 15 French doctors, including Bernard Kouchner after he had left Médecins sans frontières (MSF, Doctors Without Borders), the aid society which he had founded... Year 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar). ... Combatants Lebanese Front Syria LNM PLO Israel Commanders Bachir Gemayel Dany Chamoun Kamal Jumblatt Yasser Arafat Ariel Sharon The Lebanese Civil War (1975–1990) was a multifaceted civil war whose antecedents trace back to the conflicts and political compromises reached after the end of Lebanons administration by the Ottoman... Sayyid Musa al-Sadr MÅ«sā al-Sadr (1928-1978?) (Persian: ‎ ) also transliterated MÅ«sā-e Sader, and many other variants, was an Iranian philosopher and a prominent Shiite religious leader who spent many years of his life in Lebanon as a religious and political leader. ...

Minister in left governments

From 1988, he began his government career in Socialist governments, though he was not always a member of the French Socialist Party. He became 'Secrétaire d'état', a lower position in the Cabinet, for Humanitarian Action in 1988, then Minister of Health in 1992, under Mitterand's presidency. Later, he continued his political career in the European Parliament. Between 1993 and 1997, France was governed by right governments. Year 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar). ... The Socialist Party (Parti Socialiste, PS) is one of the largest political parties in France. ... Year 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar). ... Minister of Health redirects here. ... Year 1992 (MCMXCII) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar). ... François Maurice Adrien Marie Mitterrand (October 26, 1916 – January 8, 1996;   pronunciation?) was a French politician and President of France from May 1981, re-elected in 1988, until 1995. ... Established 1952, as the Common Assembly President Hans-Gert Pöttering (EPP) Since 16 January 2007 Vice-Presidents 14 Rodi Kratsa-Tsagaropoulou (EPP) Alejo Vidal-Quadras (EPP) Gérard Onesta (Greens – EFA) Edward McMillan-Scott (ED) Mario Mauro (EPP) Miguel Angel Martínez Martínez (PES) Luigi Cocilovo (ALDE) Mechtild... Year 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar). ... For the band, see 1997 (band). ...

When Lionel Jospin became Prime Minister in 1997, he became Minister of Health for the second time. Lionel Robert Jospin (born July 12, 1937 in Meudon, a suburb of Paris) is a French statesman who served as Prime Minister of France from 1997-2002. ... A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. ... For the band, see 1997 (band). ... Minister of Health redirects here. ...

UN Representative in Kosovo

On July 15, 1999, pursuant to Security Council Resolution 1244, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan nominated Kouchner as the first UN Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Interim Administration in Kosovo [3]. During 18 months, he led UN efforts to create a new civil administration and political system replacing the Serbian ones, and to rebuild the economy shattered by three years of civil war. Thus, municipal councils were elected at local level by the end of 2000 [4]. He was replaced on 21 January 2001 by Danish Social Democrat Hans Hækkerup. He became at this time Minister of Health for the third time, until the 2002 Elections. This article is about the United Nations, for other uses of UN see UN (disambiguation) Official languages English, French, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Arabic Secretary-General Kofi Annan (since 1997) Established October 24, 1945 Member states 191 Headquarters New York City, NY, USA Official site http://www. ... For other uses, see Kosovo (disambiguation). ... A session of the Security Council in progress The United Nations Security Council is the most powerful organ of the United Nations. ... United Nations Security Council Resolution 1244 defined the legal status of Kosovo as a UN protectorate, under its administration, while being legally an autonomous constituency of Serbia and Montenegro. ... The United Nations Secretary-General is the head of the Secretariat, one of the principal divisions of the United Nations. ... Kofi Atta Annan (born April 8, 1938) is a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations from January 1, 1997 to January 1, 2007, serving two five-year terms. ... The United Nations Mission in Kosovo or UNMIK is an interim civilian administration of the Serbian province (as part of Serbia and Montenegro) called Kosovo (officially Kosovo and Metohia), under the authority of the United Nations. ... The term Kosovo War or Kosovo Conflict is often used to describe two sequential and at times parallel armed conflicts (a civil war followed by an international war) in the southern Serbian province called Kosovo (officially Kosovo and Metohia), part of the former Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. ... A municipality or general-purpose district (compare with: special-purpose district) is an administrative local area generally composed of a clearly defined territory and commonly referring to a city, town, or village government. ... Minister of Health redirects here. ... Also see: 2002 (number). ...

About Irak's war

Kouchner is a long-time advocate of humanitarian intervention. In early 2003, he pronounced himself in favour of removing Saddam Hussein as President of Iraq, arguing that interference against dictatorship should be a global priority, and continued to say that now, the focus should be on the actual people themselves, and that they are the only ones who could answer yes or no to war. Humanitarian intervention is a term used to describe the interference in a sovereign state by another with the stated objective of ending or reducing suffering within the first state. ... Year 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti (28 April 1937 – 30 December 2006) was the fifth President of Iraq and Chairman of the Iraqi Revolutionary Command Council from 1979 until his overthrow by US forces in 2003. ... Forms of government Part of the Politics series Politics Portal This box:      A dictatorship is an autocratic form of government in which the government is ruled by a dictator. ...

In a February 4, 2003 editorial with Antoine Veil in Le Monde, entitled "Neither War Nor Saddam," Kouchner said that he was opposed to the impending War in Iraq, and, as the title suggests, to the remaining in power of Saddam Hussein, the removal of whom should be accomplished via a concerted United Nations, preferably diplomatic, solution.^{[1] [2]} For the song by the Thievery Corporation, see Le Monde (song). ... There have been three conflicts in the late 20th century and early 21st century called Gulf War, all of which refer to conflicts in the Persian Gulf region: Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988) (aka First Gulf War). ... Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti (28 April 1937 – 30 December 2006) was the fifth President of Iraq and Chairman of the Iraqi Revolutionary Command Council from 1979 until his overthrow by US forces in 2003. ... UN and U.N. redirect here. ...

Candidate for UN positions

In 2005, Kouchner was a candidate for the position of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), but lost the appointment in favor of former Portuguese Prime Minister, António Guterres, who was nominated by then-UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. One of Kouchner statements on behalf of his candidature can be found on the International Council of Voluntary Agencies site. This article is about the United Nations, for other uses of UN see UN (disambiguation) Official languages English, French, Spanish, Russian, Chinese, Arabic Secretary-General Kofi Annan (since 1997) Established October 24, 1945 Member states 191 Headquarters New York City, NY, USA Official site http://www. ... Year 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) (established December 14, 1950) protects and supports refugees at the request of a government or the United Nations and assists in their return or resettlement. ... José Sócrates, the current Prime Minister of Portugal. ... António Manuel de Oliveira Guterres (pron. ... The Secretary-General of the United Nations is the head of the Secretariat, one of the principal organs of the United Nations. ... Kofi Atta Annan (born April 8, 1938) is a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations from January 1, 1997 to January 1, 2007, serving two five-year terms. ...

In 2006, Kouchner was also a candidate to become Director-General of the World Health Organisation[5]. He lost before the final election round and Chinese candidate Margaret Chan Fung Fu-chun was later elected. Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... For other meanings of the acronym WHO, see WHO (disambiguation) WHO flag Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, the World Health Organization (WHO) is an agency of the United Nations, acting as a coordinating authority on international public health. ... Margaret Chan Fung Fu-chun OBE, JP, MSc. ...

In the Fillon government

After the election of Nicolas Sarkozy in 2007, Kouchner was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs in François Fillon's government, even though Kouchner supported Sarkozy's Socialist rival Ségolène Royal during the campaign. He has since been expelled from the Socialist Party for his acceptance of the post.^[3] Nicolas Sarkozy at Paris, May 2005. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... The honour entrance to the Ministry building on the Quai dOrsay The Minister of Foreign Affairs, in the Government of France, is the cabinet member responsible for the Republics network of relationships with foreign nations. ... This does not cite any references or sources. ... Marie-Ségolène Royal (born 22 September 1953 in Dakar, Senegal, then a French colony), known as  , (IPA: ) is a French politician. ...

Comments on Iran nuclear situation

In September 2007, Kouchner's public comments on the Iranian nuclear situation attracted much attention and controversy. In an interview on September 16, 2007, he said, "We will negotiate until the end. And at the same time we must prepare ourselves [...] for the worst.... The worst, it’s war...." ^[4]. He stated that France was committed to a diplomatic resolution and that no military action was planned, but that an Iranian nuclear weapon would pose "a real danger for the whole world". ^[5] Iranian officials criticized the comments as "inflammatory"^[6]. The chief UN nuclear inspector Mohamed ElBaradei, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency indirectly responded to Kouchner by characterizing talk of attacking Iran as "hype," saying the use of force should only be considered as a last resort and only if authorized by the UN Security Council.^[7] September 2007 is the ninth month of that year. ... This article is about Irans nuclear power program. ... is the 259th day of the year (260th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... Mohamed ElBaradei (Arabic: محمد البرادعي) (born June 17, 1942) is an Egyptian diplomat and the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), an inter-governmental organization under the auspices of the United Nations. ... The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) seeks to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy and to inhibit its use for military purposes. ...

"I would not talk about any use of force," said On September 18, 2007, Kouchner attempted to respond to criticisms. In comments to newspaper Le Monde, he stated, "I do not want it to be said that I am a warmonger! [...] My message was a message of peace, of seriousness and of determination. [...] The worst situation would be war. To avoid that, the French attitude is to negotiate, negotiate, negotiate, without fear of being rebuffed, and to work with our European friends on credible sanctions." ^[8] For the song by the Thievery Corporation, see Le Monde (song). ...

Personal life

Kouchner has four children by his first wife, Évelyne Pisier, a professor of law, and one child, Alexandre, by his present partner Christine Ockrent, a television journalist.^[9] Christine Ockrent (born April 24, 1944) is a Belgian journalist. ...

Positions held

• Became the first "Secrétaire d'état" (lower ministerial cabinet) in charge of humanitarian action from 1988 to 1992 (in the Michel Rocard cabinet.)
• Health Minister in 1992-1993 (under Pierre Bérégovoy).
• Member of the European Parliament from 1994 to 1997.
• Health Minister from 1997 to 1999. (under Lionel Jospin)
• Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations in Kosovo from 1999 to 2001.
• Health-Delegated Minister from 2001 to 2002.

v • d • e First Fillon Cabinet
François Fillon | Alain Juppé | Bernard Kouchner | Hervé Morin | Michèle Alliot-Marie | Brice Hortefeux | Rachida Dati | Jean-Louis Borloo | Éric Wœrth | Xavier Bertrand | Christine Boutin | Christine Lagarde | Xavier Darcos | Valérie Pécresse | Christine Albanel | Roselyne Bachelot

v • d • e Second Fillon Cabinet
François Fillon | Jean-Louis Borloo | Bernard Kouchner | Hervé Morin | Michèle Alliot-Marie | Brice Hortefeux | Rachida Dati | Christine Lagarde | Éric Wœrth | Xavier Bertrand | Christine Boutin | Michel Barnier | Xavier Darcos | Valérie Pécresse | Christine Albanel | Roselyne Bachelot

Notes

1. ^ Le Monde, 4 february 2003, Ni la guerre ni Saddam
2. ^ Le Monde, 18 may 2007, La dernière mission du docteur Kouchner
3. ^ France New's Government - A study in perpetual motion, The Economist, June 23, 2007 (English)
4. ^ Iran scorns French warning of war, BBC News, September 17, 2007 (English)
5. ^ After Talk of War, Cooler Words in France on Iran, New York Times; [1]
6. ^ Ibid. BBC News, September 17, 2007
7. ^ ElBaradei concerned over Iran rowBBC Sep17, 2007
8. ^ Der Spiegel. September 17, 2007.
9. ^ Nouveau Grub Street, The Economist, May 31, 2007 (English)

For the song by the Thievery Corporation, see Le Monde (song). ... For the song by the Thievery Corporation, see Le Monde (song). ... The Economist is an English-language weekly news and international affairs publication owned by The Economist Newspaper Ltd and edited in London. ... BBC News is the department within the BBC responsible for the corporations news-gathering and production of news programmes on BBC television, radio and online. ... The Economist is an English-language weekly news and international affairs publication owned by The Economist Newspaper Ltd and edited in London. ...

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Bernard Kouchner

• Kosovo’s Kouchner, Inventor Of ‘Humanitarian Interventionism’, To Monitor Sri Lanka, Asian Tribune, 25 December 2006
• A Surprising Choice for France’s Foreign Minister, By Elaine Sciolino, New York Times, May 18, 2007
• CFR.org Video Highlights: Bernard Kouchner