Wolfowitz pleads to keep job at World Bk
The board of executive directors is to continue deliberations on his fate today.
By Agencies |
WASHINGTON: World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz implored the lender's board on Wednesday to keep his job, promising changes in his management style in the wake of a damaging favoritism scandal.
The United States reiterated its support for the embattled bank chief, but entertained "all options," an opening interpreted by the US media as a sign of his imminent departure.
The board of executive directors is to continue deliberations on his fate today. According to a hearing transcript released by his lawyer, Wolfowitz, 63, answered allegations he had put his "personal interests" above rules, risking the very mission of the development lender.
The World Bank chief refuted point by point a scathing report by a bank investigatory panel published Monday concluding he had breached bank ethics rules in arranging a lucrative pay-and-promotion package and transfer to the State Department for his companion and fellow bank employee, Shaha Riza. "I implore each of you to be fair in making your decision, because your decision will not only affect my life, it will affect how this institution is viewed in the United States and the world," Wolfowitz told the executive directors.
The month-old scandal has riven the 185-country bank -- most European members are calling for Wolfowitz's resignation -- and threatens to undermine the bank's ability to fulfill its mission to combat poverty. "I fear that the way this recent inquiry is handled has the potential to do greater long-term damage to the institution than the alleged underlying ethics issue that was, in point of fact, put to rest over a year ago," he said.
The United States reiterated its support for the embattled bank chief, but entertained "all options," an opening interpreted by the US media as a sign of his imminent departure.
The board of executive directors is to continue deliberations on his fate today. According to a hearing transcript released by his lawyer, Wolfowitz, 63, answered allegations he had put his "personal interests" above rules, risking the very mission of the development lender.
The World Bank chief refuted point by point a scathing report by a bank investigatory panel published Monday concluding he had breached bank ethics rules in arranging a lucrative pay-and-promotion package and transfer to the State Department for his companion and fellow bank employee, Shaha Riza. "I implore each of you to be fair in making your decision, because your decision will not only affect my life, it will affect how this institution is viewed in the United States and the world," Wolfowitz told the executive directors.
The month-old scandal has riven the 185-country bank -- most European members are calling for Wolfowitz's resignation -- and threatens to undermine the bank's ability to fulfill its mission to combat poverty. "I fear that the way this recent inquiry is handled has the potential to do greater long-term damage to the institution than the alleged underlying ethics issue that was, in point of fact, put to rest over a year ago," he said.
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