Swiss back Wolfowitz as World Bank chief

Paul Wolfowitz wants to take over the helm of the World Bank Keystone

Economics Minister Joseph Deiss says Switzerland will support the controversial United States nomination of Paul Wolfowitz to take over as head of the World Bank.

After a meeting in Brussels on Wednesday with other European ministers and Wolfowitz, Deiss said he had “a very good feeling” about the nomination.

Wolfowitz – the US deputy secretary of defence known as the architect of the Iraq war – was in the Belgian capital on the eve of a World Bank meeting that will choose a successor to veteran James Wolfensohn.

The aim of the World Bank is to fight poverty and improve the living standards of people in the developing world.

The European Union had invited Switzerland to Brussels because of its “close ties” to the EU group of countries at the World Bank in Washington, Deiss said.

Switzerland has a seat on the board of the institution and represents the interests of a number of countries in eastern Europe and satellites of the former Soviet Union.

“I think that Switzerland will support the candidature of Paul Wolfowitz to this post,” Deiss said.

Good impression

Deiss spoke of his “very good impression” after answers Wolfowitz gave to numerous questions asked by the European ministers.

He said he had insisted on two main points – multilateralism and work with partners such as non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

Deiss added that he had received satisfactory replies, with Wolfowitz saying he was prepared to take on the role of a “civil servant” in the service of an international institution often criticised by the US.

He was also willing to try to build a climate of confidence with NGOs.

The nomination of Wolfowitz has been attacked not only by European politicians but also by development and human rights groups.

Fighting poverty

Wolfowitz stressed his commitment to fighting poverty in a statement after Wednesday’s talks. He praised the EU’s role in development, and promised to consult Europe regularly and ensure it was properly represented in the bank’s management.

The executive European Commission said it was happy with the commitments Wolfowitz had given EU finance and development officials, and Germany said it expected EU governors to back him.

Commissioner Olli Rehn “was satisfied with everything he heard from Mr Wolfowitz concerning free trade and also on poverty reduction and development policy”, a Commission spokeswoman said.

German Development Minister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul, who had voiced open scepticism when President Bush first nominated the outspoken hawk, told reporters: “I expect that he will get the European and German support.”

Asked about his role in the Iraq war, she said: “This is for him a new beginning as well.”

Wolfowitz, more widely associated with the unilateral use of US military power than with development policy, said he knew his neo-conservative image worried some in Europe.

“I understand that I’m, to put it mildly, a controversial figure,” he told a news conference. “But as people get to know me better, they will understand that I really do believe deeply in the mission of the bank.”

swissinfo with agencies

Key facts

The World Bank Group’s mission is to fight poverty and improve the living standards of people in the developing world.
It provides loans, policy advice, technical assistance and knowledge-sharing services to low and middle income countries to reduce poverty.
The Bank promotes growth to create jobs and to empower poor people to take advantage of these opportunities.

In brief

Switzerland is head of a group at the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund that includes Azerbaijan, the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (informally), Kyrgyzstan, Poland, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

It is commonly dubbed “Helvetistan”.

Switzerland joined the World Bank Group in May, 1992.