Tue, Mar 29, 2005 page12

• Wolfowitz talks the talk about new job

  SHEEP'S CLOTHING? The controversial candidate for World Bank president, US Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, says he won't be swayed by US interests in this job

  • AFP AND REUTERS
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  US Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz, who Washington is backing to become World Bank president this week, said if elected he would focus on economic growth, tackling poverty and fighting corruption.

  In an interview in yesterday's Jakarta Post he said he would draw on his time as a former envoy to Indonesia to explore ways of helping poorer nations, particularly in Africa, but would avoid using the job to spread democracy.

  "I think people know what I think on that subject, but I think I'll be more effective if I concentrate on those things that lead to poverty reduction and economic development," he told the English-language daily.

  Wolfowitz, who was Washington's ambassador to Indonesia between 1986 and 1989, said if appointed he would continue the "remarkable" work of his predecessor James Wolfehnson, and would not be swayed by US interests.

  His World Bank candidacy has caused alarm because of his role as a lead architect of the Iraq war, and has sparked concerns he would steer the institute on an agenda set by the administration of US President George W. Bush.

  "If I am confirmed, I will be an international civil servant. I will be the president of a multilateral organization with 184 member nations," he said.

  "I am aware that I am accountable to a different group of people than I am in my present job. The job of the president of the bank is to pull together the most effective possible consensus in support of the goal that everyone agrees on, which is reducing poverty and promoting economic development," he said.

  He said fighting graft would be a crucial element to all aspects of the World Bank's work, although he admitted it was "not something you can eliminate entirely."

  He said he would also encourage donors to be more generous, prioritizing help for African nations who are among the bank's main dependents -- but not at the expense of those living in poverty in Asia.

  "Africa depends so much on the bank ... In part that's because of some of the most horrible conditions of poverty in the world compounded by severe health epidemics, are to be found in Africa," Wolfowitz said.

  "But it's a global job and, as one of the Asian directors of the bank reminded me, there are still more poor people in Asia than anywhere else in the world," he said.

  Wolfowitz, who is currently deputy secretary of defense in the administration of US President George W. Bush, has proven a controversial choice because of his role in planning the 2003 Iraq invasion that was bitterly opposed by many European countries and the Muslim world.

  However, approval by the bank's board, which operates by consensus, is likely a foregone conclusion and is expected by the end of this month. Washington has the largest voting share on the 24-member board and traditionally nominates the president.

  Wolfowitz said while issues of corruption and governance were not easy to separate from democracy, he would focus on getting donors to be more generous, developed countries to open their markets and developing nations to tackle corruption.

  He said the bank had made Africa a special priority.

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