Bernard Kouchner

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If true this is interesting (via Solomonia):

Bernard Kouchner, a world-renowned humanitarian who founded the Doctors without Borders (MSF) charity and served as the UN’s representative in Kosovo, is likely to be France’s next foreign minister, aides to president-elect Nicolas Sarkozy said overnight.

The 67-year-old, a member of the opposition Socialist Party, was approached by Mr Sarkozy over the last few days and “is ready to enter the government”, they said.

According to Le Monde newspaper, he was to see Mr Sarkozy overnight for talks based on a future minister’s range of responsibilities…

Mr Kouchner founded the international medical charity MSF in 1971 after working as a doctor in Biafra…

Mr Kouchner is famous for developing the theory of “humanitarian intervention” to justify international action against dictators who flout human rights.

In the run-up to the American-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, he was strongly critical of French policy which he said had encouraged the US and Britain to go to war without UN backing.

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  1. IanCroydon Avatar
    IanCroydon

    “he was strongly critical of French policy which he said had encouraged the US and Britain to go to war without UN backing”
    I wonder what “French policy” is being referred to here ? The withdrawal of the French from the no-fly zone tactics (never fully endorsed by the UN), the pre-emptive veto of any UNSC debate over resolution 1441 (the “serious consequences” ultimatum) ? Or perhaps the policy of negotiating oil contracts with Saddam behind everyones back whilst advocating a trade embargo as a “containment” strategy ?
    Looking back at history, and French involvement with NATO would be a classic example, it would require a lot more than this to envisage French foreign policy as being even mildly cooperative.

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