Media Contacts:
In Addis Ababa: Gelila Woodeneh (251 111) 5176052 gwoodeneh@worldbank.org In Washington: Tim Carrington (1 202) 473-8133 tcarrington@worldbank.org ADDIS ABABA, July 10 – World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz made the following statement today upon his arrival in Ethiopia: “I am delighted to be in Ethiopia, one of the oldest civilizations in the world and a land of rich culture. This is my second visit to Africa as President of the World Bank and my first time in your country, and I very much look forward to what I will learn during my time here. “This weekend, the leaders of the world’s richest countries will gather in St. Petersburg, Russia for the G8 summit. I will be joining them after visiting your country and Tanzania and I intend to bring a very clear message: we must deliver on the promises made last year to this great continent – to help provide the opportunity for the poorest Africans to lift themselves out of poverty and make steady progress toward a better life for future generations. “Ethiopia is a critical partner in this effort and it represents one of the Bank’s largest portfolios in sub-Saharan Africa. Its stability and prosperity are crucial to the entire Horn of Africa, and I am very interested in learning about the economic and governance challenges facing the country and their impact on its prospects for growth. “Ethiopia has made important gains on several fronts, but it is critical that it sustains this momentum. The Bank has supported Ethiopia’s efforts to improve the livelihoods of its people through the expansion of basic services—such as health, education, water and sanitation---with a renewed focus on quality, local empowerment and transparency. Our level of involvement in Ethiopia, working with other development partners, is predicated on sustained improvement in governance and accountability. “During my visit, I will meet with Prime Minister Meles Zenawi and Parliamentary Leaders from different political parties, as well as representatives from civil society and the private sector. I also will visit Bahir Dar to see first hand how efforts in service delivery are making a difference in the lives of the people of Ethiopia. I look forward to learning a great deal on this trip about this country and its fascinating people, history and culture.” - | 
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