Wolfowitz woos EU

Paul Wolfowitz has admitted he is a “controversial” choice to head up the World Bank but has pledged to play a “unifying” role in the top development post.

The former American defence deputy, widely credited as an architect of the US Iraq intervention, has not been a popular Washington choice for the development agency.

But despite reservations and public backing from only Germany, Italy and the UK, Wolfowitz is expected to get the job after a Thursday meeting of the bank’s 24 executive directors.

Speaking after “constructive exchanges” with EU ministers, Wolfowitz acknowledged that his “neo-conservative” reputation had made him a controversial candidate.

“I understand that I am, to put it mildly, a controversial figure but I hope as people get to know me they will understand that really do believe deeply in the mission of the bank,” he said.

Wolfowitz has moved to assure EU capitals that fears of US ‘unilateralism’ would be unfounded.

“It's important to emphasise too that President Bush believes deeply in the mission of the bank. He believes deeply in poverty reduction, he believes it is an effort to do it multilaterally,” he said.

“It is a mission that is a unifying mission. And frankly that is going to be fun.”

Calls for a European deputy president would be listened to, pledged Wolfowitz, and balanced against candidates from develeoping countries.

“It is very important… that the senior management of the bank reflects the fact that it is a multilateral institution, it needs to reflect the fact that the European countries are the largest single donor to the bank.”

“But it also needs to reflect the full diversity of donors and recipients. I intend to look for the best talent from all around the world,” he told journalists.

“There is great talent here in Europe, there are some impressive people in the developing world.”

Highlighting the World Bank’s “truly noble mission”, Wolfowitz has promised to act in the interests of the international community.

“If I am approved as president I look forward to being an international civil servant,” he said.

“People who don’t know me may not appreciate why I am eager to take on the challenge of this job. I believe deeply in the work of the bank. Helping to lift people out of poverty is truly a noble mission.”

“The staff of the World Bank are as a group the most impressive development experts you will found anywhere in the world. It is exciting to contemplate working with such diverse talents drawn from all over the world including a great many people from Europe.”

Wolfowitz said that his role as a former US ambassador to Indonesia had given him experience and insights into global development issues.

“I saw there at first hand what the international development institutions can do, first hand what the World Bank can do in leading a multilateral group of donors,” he said.

“I saw also first hand the obstacles that corruption and poor governance can do to prevent and set back development and poverty alleviation.”

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