Bernard Kouchner sees his appointment as the UN High Representative for Kosovo as the culmination of his life's work. For 30 years - since he went to Biafra with the International Red Cross as a doctor - the French junior minister for health has preached the international community's droit d'ingerence (right of interference) in countries which violate the rights of minorities.
Although the term was coined by the French philosopher Jean-Francois Revel in 1979, Dr Kouchner (59) has been France's most vociferous advocate of humanitarian intervention, if need be in violation of national sovereignty. In 1979 he founded Medecins sans Frontieres (MSF), the "French doctors" who became a model for medical relief work around the world. In 1987, he co-authored a book in which the "right of interference" became the "duty of interference". Although in his youth he was a member of the Communist Students' Union, Dr Kouchner's "borderless" ideology made him a fervent proponent of the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia.
As a result, Belgrade responded cautiously to his appointment, calling him a "controversial" personality. Yet in an interview with Le Monde hours after he was chosen by the UN Secretary General, Mr Kofi Annan, Dr Kouchner distanced himself from the US position that Serbia must receive no reconstruction aid while President Slobodan Milosevic remains in power. "Humanitarian aid does not distinguish between categories of victims. We must help Serb refugees and the Serb population, even in Serbia - without going so far as helping Slobodan Milosevic politically."
At the head of MSF, then later at Medecins du Monde which he also founded, Dr Kouchner publicised the plight of civilian populations in Uganda, Eritrea, Chad, Sudan, Rwanda, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Salvador, Lebanon and Bosnia - often belittling western governments for failing to intervene. To the annoyance of other, less telegenic politicians, his frequent television appearances made him a popular figure in France.
Dr Kouchner's marriage to the well-known journalist Christine Ockrent attracted more attention, and the couple earned a reputation for a certain socialite vanity. In December 1992, Dr Kouchner was ridiculed for carrying a sack of rice on his shoulder in front of television cameras in Somalia. The previous year, I had accompanied him across the Green Line in Beirut during fighting between Christian militias. He insisted on stopping the convoy in the battle zone to be photographed alongside ambulance drivers. Dr Kouchner also earned a reputation for efficiency and enthusiasm. In an earlier, 1992-1993 stint as health minister, he was the first French official to try to set right the legacy of the HIV-contaminated blood scandal. Although he has held four government portfolios, humanitarian intervention remained his great passion. He said he accepted the job of civil administrator of Kosovo "because it's the continuation of a long march in my life".
French leaders lobbied hard for Dr Kouchner's appointment. "This is also the policy of my country that has been chosen," he acknowledged. In a televised address on April 21st, President Jacques Chirac proposed that the post-war administration of Kosovo be entrusted to the European Union. Although the civil administration was to fall under UN auspices, it was agreed that the position of High Representative would go to a European. Dr Kouchner's contenders for the appointment were the British Liberal Democrat leader, Mr Paddy Ashdown, and the Italian EU Commissioner, Ms Emma Bonino.
The US State Department was not pleased with his assignment - was it that youthful flirtation with communism? The US and insisted that Washington choose Dr Kouchner's deputy, a US diplomat, Mr Jack Covey.
In Pristina, Dr Kouchner is already referred to as the governor. The tasks awaiting his arrival next week are enormous. He will have to rebuild an entire province almost from scratch, including its water, electricity and telephone systems. He will oversee the return of refugees and the creation of political institutions - and try to persuade the Serb minority to stay. While the UN dawdled, the Kosovo Liberation Army moved into the vacuum and there will be tension between "Governor" Kouchner and the KLA's "prime minister", Mr Hashim Thaci. Dr Kouchner says the future Kosovo police force must not be recruited among KLA members; Mr Thaci says the police force is the KLA's responsibility.