Jean-David Levitte
Encyclopedia
Jean-David Levitte is a French diplomat, formerly the French ambassador to the United States, and currently diplomatic advisor and sherpa
to President Nicolas Sarkozy
. He has also been named head of the future National Security Council.
Levitte was born in Moissac
, in the south of France. He is a graduate of Sciences Po and of the French National School of Oriental Languages
, where he studied Chinese and Indonesian. He is married to Marie-Cécile Jonas and has two daughters.
in 1970 and in Beijing
, China from 1972 to 1974. In the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs itself, he has served as Director of Economic Affairs (1974–1975), Assistant Director of West Africa (1984–1986), Assistant Director of the Cabinet (1986–1988), Director of Asia and Oceania (1990–1993), and General Director of Cultural, Scientific, and Technical Relations (1993–1995).
in New York.
In 1988, he was designated to his first position as Ambassador and served as the French Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office in Geneva from 1988 to 1990.
.
Between 1995 and 2000 he was a diplomatic adviser and sherpa to the French president Jacques Chirac, a position to which he returned in 2007, under President Nicolas Sarkozy
.
on Iraq. He was president of the Security Council in September 2001 and presiding over the Council's deliberations following the September 11, 2001 attacks
on the United States.
in Washington on December 9, 2002. He was succeeded by the current ambassador, Pierre Vimont
, who was appointed on August 1, 2007.
to President Nicolas Sarkozy, and the head of a future American-style National Security Council. The nature and extent of his new role is not yet clear. While some commentators have suggested he will not eclipse Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Bernard Kouchner
, Levitte has elsewhere been referred to as "seemingly the true Minister of Foreign Affairs." Despite assertions made while campaigning, it remains to be seen to what extent President Sarkozy will treat national security and foreign affairs as the "reserved domain" of the presidency.
Sherpa (G8)
A sherpa is the personal representative of a head of state of government who prepares an international summit, particularly the annual G8 Summit. Between the G8 summits there are multiple sherpa conferences where possible agreements are laid out. This reduces the amount of time and resources...
to President Nicolas Sarkozy
Nicolas Sarkozy
Nicolas Sarkozy is the 23rd and current President of the French Republic and ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra. He assumed the office on 16 May 2007 after defeating the Socialist Party candidate Ségolène Royal 10 days earlier....
. He has also been named head of the future National Security Council.
Levitte was born in Moissac
Moissac
Moissac is a commune in the Tarn-et-Garonne department in the Midi-Pyrénées region in southern France. It is famous world-wide mostly for the artistic heritage handed down by the ancient Saint-Pierre Abbey.-History:...
, in the south of France. He is a graduate of Sciences Po and of the French National School of Oriental Languages
Institut national des langues et civilisations orientales
The Institut National des Langues et Civilisations Orientales is located in Paris, France. It was founded in 1795 after the French Revolution and is now one of the country's Grands établissements with a specialization in African, Asian, East European, Oceanian languages and civilisations...
, where he studied Chinese and Indonesian. He is married to Marie-Cécile Jonas and has two daughters.
A career in the French Foreign Affairs
His firsts posts were in Hong KongHong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
in 1970 and in Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, China from 1972 to 1974. In the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs itself, he has served as Director of Economic Affairs (1974–1975), Assistant Director of West Africa (1984–1986), Assistant Director of the Cabinet (1986–1988), Director of Asia and Oceania (1990–1993), and General Director of Cultural, Scientific, and Technical Relations (1993–1995).
Ambassador to United Nations in Geneva
Between 1981 and 1984 he was the Adviser to the Permanent Mission of France at the United NationsUnited Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
in New York.
In 1988, he was designated to his first position as Ambassador and served as the French Permanent Representative to the United Nations Office in Geneva from 1988 to 1990.
Élysée
Between 1975 and 1981, he was the chargé de mission at the General Secretariat of the President Valéry Giscard d'EstaingValéry Giscard d'Estaing
Valéry Marie René Georges Giscard d'Estaing is a French centre-right politician who was President of the French Republic from 1974 until 1981...
.
Between 1995 and 2000 he was a diplomatic adviser and sherpa to the French president Jacques Chirac, a position to which he returned in 2007, under President Nicolas Sarkozy
Nicolas Sarkozy
Nicolas Sarkozy is the 23rd and current President of the French Republic and ex officio Co-Prince of Andorra. He assumed the office on 16 May 2007 after defeating the Socialist Party candidate Ségolène Royal 10 days earlier....
.
Ambassador to the UN and Security Council
From 2000 to 2002, he was Ambassador to the United Nations in New York, representing France at the Security Council before and during the negotiation that lead to the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1441United Nations Security Council Resolution 1441
United Nations Security Council Resolution 1441 is a United Nations Security Council resolution adopted unanimously by the United Nations Security Council on November 8, 2002, offering Iraq under Saddam Hussein "a final opportunity to comply with its disarmament obligations" that had been set out...
on Iraq. He was president of the Security Council in September 2001 and presiding over the Council's deliberations following the September 11, 2001 attacks
September 11, 2001 attacks
The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
on the United States.
Ambassador to the US
From late 2002 to 2007, he was Ambassador to U.S. J. D. Levitte presented his ambassadorial credentials to George W. BushGeorge W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
in Washington on December 9, 2002. He was succeeded by the current ambassador, Pierre Vimont
Pierre Vimont
Pierre Vimont is the Secretary-General of the European External Action Service .-Biography:Vimont holds a licence in law. He is a graduate of the Institut d'Études Politiques de Paris and the École nationale d'administration...
, who was appointed on August 1, 2007.
Back to the Élysée
On May 16, 2007, he was appointed diplomatic advisor and sherpaSherpa (G8)
A sherpa is the personal representative of a head of state of government who prepares an international summit, particularly the annual G8 Summit. Between the G8 summits there are multiple sherpa conferences where possible agreements are laid out. This reduces the amount of time and resources...
to President Nicolas Sarkozy, and the head of a future American-style National Security Council. The nature and extent of his new role is not yet clear. While some commentators have suggested he will not eclipse Minister of Foreign and European Affairs Bernard Kouchner
Bernard Kouchner
Bernard Kouchner is a French politician, diplomat, and doctor. He is co-founder of Médecins Sans Frontières and Médecins du Monde...
, Levitte has elsewhere been referred to as "seemingly the true Minister of Foreign Affairs." Despite assertions made while campaigning, it remains to be seen to what extent President Sarkozy will treat national security and foreign affairs as the "reserved domain" of the presidency.