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.
SECURITY: As China is ‘reshaping’ Hong Kong’s population, Taiwan must raise the eligibility threshold for applications from Hong Kongers, Chiu Chui-cheng said When Hong Kong and Macau citizens apply for residency in Taiwan, it would be under a new category that includes a “national security observation period,” Mainland Affairs Council (MAC) Minister Chiu Chui-cheng (邱垂正) said yesterday. President William Lai (賴清德) on March 13 announced 17 strategies to counter China’s aggression toward Taiwan, including incorporating national security considerations into the review process for residency applications from Hong Kong and Macau citizens. The situation in Hong Kong is constantly changing, Chiu said to media yesterday on the sidelines of the Taipei Technology Run hosted by the Taipei Neihu Technology Park Development Association. With
CARROT AND STICK: While unrelenting in its military threats, China attracted nearly 40,000 Taiwanese to over 400 business events last year Nearly 40,000 Taiwanese last year joined industry events in China, such as conferences and trade fairs, supported by the Chinese government, a study showed yesterday, as Beijing ramps up a charm offensive toward Taipei alongside military pressure. China has long taken a carrot-and-stick approach to Taiwan, threatening it with the prospect of military action while reaching out to those it believes are amenable to Beijing’s point of view. Taiwanese security officials are wary of what they see as Beijing’s influence campaigns to sway public opinion after Taipei and Beijing gradually resumed travel links halted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the scale of
A US Marine Corps regiment equipped with Naval Strike Missiles (NSM) is set to participate in the upcoming Balikatan 25 exercise in the Luzon Strait, marking the system’s first-ever deployment in the Philippines. US and Philippine officials have separately confirmed that the Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) — the mobile launch platform for the Naval Strike Missile — would take part in the joint exercise. The missiles are being deployed to “a strategic first island chain chokepoint” in the waters between Taiwan proper and the Philippines, US-based Naval News reported. “The Luzon Strait and Bashi Channel represent a critical access
Pope Francis is be laid to rest on Saturday after lying in state for three days in St Peter’s Basilica, where the faithful are expected to flock to pay their respects to history’s first Latin American pontiff. The cardinals met yesterday in the Vatican’s synod hall to chart the next steps before a conclave begins to choose Francis’ successor, as condolences poured in from around the world. According to current norms, the conclave must begin between May 5 and 10. The cardinals set the funeral for Saturday at 10am in St Peter’s Square, to be celebrated by the dean of the College
RSS