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About the Participants

Bernard Kouchner
Bernard Kouchner, who is a doctor of medicine, was the founder, organizer, and president from 1971 to 1979 of Médecins sans Frontières. He was the founder, organizer, and from 1980 to 1988, president of Médecins du Monde, a nonprofit organization whose members—doctors and nurses who are volunteers— help in times of emergency and in situations of inadequate medical care in the Third World.

In addition to his career in humanitarian affairs, Dr. Kouchner has had an extensive political career. In March 1993, he became French Minister of Health and Humanitarian Action. He served as Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations and Head of the UN Mission in Kosovo from July 1999 to January 2001.

Dr. Kouchner also served as Minister of State, attached to the Minister of Social Affairs and Employment with responsibility for Social Integration in 1988. From 1988 to 1991 he was Minister of State with responsibility for Humanitarian Action. From June 1997 to July 1999, he was Minister of State, attached to the minister of Employment and Solidarity. He was Minister Delegate at the Ministry for Employment and Solidarity with responsibility for Health from February 2001 until May 2002.

Since July 1994 he has been a member of the European Parliament and president of the Committee on Development and Cooperation. He founded and became chairman of the social charity “Réunir, le dialogue en action” in 1995. He has been Deputy Chairman of Radical since December 1995.

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