Friday, 13 April 2007WASHINGTON ÔÇö World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz, a former deputy US defense secretary and a key architect of the Iraq invasion, found himself on Thursday, April 12, haunted by a nepotism scandal threatening his own survival at the helm of the global lender.
"I made a mistake, for which I am sorry," Wolfowitz told a press conference amid a swirling favoritism controversy over hefty pay rises given to his girlfriend Shaha Riza, reported Agence France-Press (AFP).
Riza was transferred from the World Bank's communications office to the US State Department, in line with bank regulations to avoid a conflict of interest after Wolfowitz's appointment in mid-2005.
While still on the World Bank payroll, she was then rapidly promoted and ended up with compensation of more than 193,000 dollars -- about 7,000 dollars higher than Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice earns.
"I take full responsibility for the details of the agreement," Wolfowitz said, referring to an advice by the bank's ethics committee on Riza's employment.
He said the committee's advice had been to "promote and relocate" Riza out of the World Bank, although that is disputed by some bank staff.
The Financial Timesreported Thursday that Wolfowitz personally ordered the massive pay rises given to his girlfriend.
It cited two people who had seen a memo from Wolfowitz to the head of human resources spelling out the terms of the package.
Controversial
The former deputy US defense secretary, one of the architects of the war in Iraq, refused to say if he might have to resign as the World Bank's board of governors met to discuss the row Thursday.
"I'm not going to pre-empt their deliberations," said the 63-year-old.
"I will accept any remedies they propose."
Last week the bank's governors, who are appointed by national governments, ordered an investigation into a "possible violation of staff rules in favor of a staff member closely associated with the president."
The probe was instigated after a circular from the World Bank's internal staff association said it had been "inundated with messages from staff expressing concern, dismay and outrage" over the Riza case.
The controversy has embarrassed Wolfowitz just as he battles to overcome skepticism about a campaign that he is waging against corruption in the World Bank's multi-billion-dollar lending.
He is also under fire from veteran World Bank staff for his management style, following a series of clashes with the board and hostility towards his appointment of two former members of President George W. Bush's administration to high-ranking jobs in his inner circle.
Wolfowitz's nomination by the Bush administration for the prestigious post two years ago was controversial given his role in the Iraq war.
He has been bound up with US foreign and defense policy for most of his career, rather than economic development that is the traditional mission of World Bank presidents.
He became defense secretary Donald Rumsfeld's deputy in the Republican administration that took power in 2001.
Wolfowitz has defended the US plan to invade Iraq, a position that has made him a target of critics such as film director Michael Moore in his award winning movie "Fahrenheit 9/11."
13 April 2007
Islam Online |
Friday, 13 April 2007
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