World Bank and transparency

["michael a. lebowitz" <mlebowit@xxxxxx>]

Here's a petition that will make you want to circulate a statement
commending the selection of Wolfowitz!

>>SIGN-ON STATEMENT ON WOLFOWITZ NOMINATION AS WORLD BANK PRESIDENT.
>>>DEADLINE FOR SIGNATURE FRIDAY 18^TH MARCH, 16.00 European continental time
 
>>>>Circulate widely to your contacts today. Apologies for any cross-posting.
 
You will have heard that on Wednesday George W. Bush nominated Paul Wolfowitz for the World Bank presidency position. Wolfowitz, a key architect and implementer of the current US foreign policy, is a very controversial choice borne of a deeply flawed process.
 
The World Bank is an important and powerful institution and we believe it is the duty of civil society groups and parliamentarians to express themselves on this matter. To that end we have produced the below sign-on statement. This will be a public statement addressed to heads of state who have an opportunity to instruct their representatives to the Bank to vote against Wolfowitz.
 
The statement is deliberately short, and calmly worded, to enable as many organisations and individuals as possible to sign. Text amendments will not be possible given the rapid deadline. European governments may be forced to take a position very soon (there is no official timetable).
 
While the statement is targeted at European governments, who have the most responsibility and opportunity in this matter, people from all regions are welcome to sign. We would encourage them to do similar statements also to their own heads of state.
 
Frequent updates on the situation, and an opportunity to log your comments, can be found at: www.worldbankpresident.org.
 
Spanish and French versions of this statement will be available shortly.
 
Send endorsements of this statement to assistant@xxxxxxxxxxx by Friday 17^th, 16.00.
 
Alex Wilks
European Network on Debt and Development
www.eurodad.org
 
________________________________________________________________
Public statement to European heads of state on the World Bank president nomination
 
We the undersigned wish to register our strong concern about the nomination of Paul Wolfowitz for the World Bank president position.
 

1. We consider Mr Wolfowitz?s experience as US ambassador to Indonesia during the Suharto government insufficient qualification on development issues and economics.

 

1. We fear his appointment risks the Bank becoming seen as a tool of the current controversial US foreign policy, with aid flows becoming more dependent on strict adherence to US Administration priorities.

 

1. We reject the untransparent and undemocratic process by which one government nominates a single candidate for Bank president.

 

1. We call on European governments to challenge the current World Bank process and also to commit to a fully open process next time the IMF Managing Director is appointed.

 

1. We urge European governments to follow the precedent set by the USA in 2000 when it rejected a European candidate for the IMF position. European governments, if they act collectively, represent the largest shareholder block in the Bank. You can take action to reject the current nominee and press for other candidates.

 

1. We call on all European governments to clearly and publicly state their position on this matter as a matter of urgency.

 
A challenge to the nomination would be in line with international democratic norms and many European government policy statements. Who runs the World Bank is a vital question which affects the future of international efforts towards poverty eradication.
 
Signatories,
 
Name:
Organisation:
Country:
 
____________________________________
Coordinator
European Network on Debt and Development
+32 2 543 90 67
www.eurodad.org
 
To subscribe for free to our 2 regular e-bulletins, on debt and on PRSPs, visit:
http://www.eurodad.org/aboutus/default.aspx?id=227
 
 

--
***************************************************************
Dr. Gustavo Indart
Department of Economics
University of Toronto
150 St. George Street
Toronto, Ontario
Canada M5S 3G7
Tel: 416-978-5331
Fax: 416-978-6713
E-mail: g.indart@xxxxxxxxxxx
***************************************************************

Michael A. Lebowitz

Professor Emeritus

Economics Department

Simon Fraser University

Burnaby, B.C., Canada V5A 1S6

Currently based in Venezuela. Can be reached at

Residencias Anauco Suites

Departamento 601

Parque Central, Zona Postal 1010, Oficina 1

Caracas, Venezuela

(58-212) 573-4111

fax: (58-212) 573-7724