Contacts:
Gerry Rice (202) 473-1842
grice@worldbank.org
WASHINGTON, March 31, 2005—Executive Directors representing the Group of Eleven (G-11) countries which consists of 108 developing and transition country members of the World Bank Group had the opportunity today to meet with Mr. Paul D. Wolfowitz, the US nominee for the Presidency of the institution. While stressing the need for a more global and transparent nomination process, the G-11 Executive Directors appreciated the opportunity to hold meetings with Mr.Wolfowitz--as an important input to help inform the Governors of the countries they represent.
During the discussion, Mr. Wolfowitz gave assurance of his commitment to the multilateral nature of the World Bank, his transition from a national official to an international civil servant, and his willingness to guide the institution with the principle of non-politicization--in the interests of both shareholders and clients. In this context, the Executive Directors referred to the Bank's Articles of Agreement, specifically Article V Section 5 (c) which reads as follows:
The President, officers and staff of the Bank, in the discharge of their offices, owe their duty entirely to the Bank and to no other authority. Each member of the Bank shall respect the international character of this duty and shall refrain from all attempts to influence any of them in the discharge of their duties.
Mr. Wolfowitz also embraced the Bank’s mandate of economic development and poverty reduction, and endorsed the strategic direction of the Bank to strengthen its role as multilateral mechanism for development financing. The Executive Directors also appreciated his assurance to maintain the Bank's ongoing financial soundness, and to ensure strategic and managerial continuity.
The G-11 Executive Directors affirmed Mr. Wolfowitz’s commitment to the Bank Group's policy priorities in helping countries attain the Millennium Development Goals, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa; in supporting the objectives of the Bank’s middle-income country strategy; and in emphasizing infrastructure and human resource development.
The G-11 Executive Directors reiterated their concerns about developing and transition countries’ due representation in the World Bank Group's senior management appointments. A merit-based national diversity within the senior management team is necessary to enable the Bank to fulfill its development mandate by fully reflecting clients’ views in decision-making. Here, the Executive Directors referred to Article V Section 5 (d), which reads as follows:
In appointing the officers and staff the President shall, subject to the paramount importance of securing the highest standards of efficiency and of technical competence, pay due regard to the importance of recruiting personnel on as wide a geographical basis as possible.
The G-11 Executive Directors expressed the view that both member countries and the institution would greatly benefit from a more transparent and consultative presidential selection process encompassing a wider range of international candidates.
The G-11 group of Executive Directors also placed on record their deep appreciation of Mr. Wolfensohn’s leadership of the World Bank Group and his furthering of its mission of global poverty reduction.
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