Hubert V�drine is a French Socialist politician. Diplomatic adviser of President Mitterrand, he served as secretary-general of the presidency from 1991 to 1995, then as Foreign Minister in the government of Lionel Jospin from 1997 to 2002. After the reelection of Jacques Chirac in May 2002, V�drine was replaced by Dominique de Villepin. All three men were characterised by their strong opposition to unilateral action by the United States in Iraq. V�drine popularized the neologism hyperpower to describe what he saw as the historically unparalleled influence and might held by the United States at the turn of the century. V�drine is a member of UN' Alliance of Civilizations initiative. He was awarded Grand Cross with Star of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland. 

July 31st, 1947 in Saint-Silvain-Bellegarde (Age 76) as Hubert Yves Pierre Védrine