WB Prez Wolfowitz should step down: Germany

Berlin, May 10: Germany today reiterated its position that World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz should step down over a promotion deal he approved for his girlfriend.

Karin Kortmann, a state secretary in Germany's Development Ministry, said Development Minister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul had told Wolfowitz at the bank's spring meeting she was ''deeply concerned'' about the credieffectiveness of the bank.

''She made it clear to (Wolfowitz) that his voluntary resignation was the best solution for the bank and its goals,'' Kortmann told lawmakers in the lower house of parliament.

Wieczorek-Zeul, responsible for World Bank issues in Chancellor Angela Merkel's ruling coalition, laid out Germany's position on the Wolfowitz issue in a newspaper interview at the end of last month.

Kortman's comments came before the White House today expressed its continued full support for Wolfowitz.

She said Europe was not looking for a confrontation with the United States on the issue and pushing through any solution against US wishes would be difficult.

''The US interest in naming the World Bank president is not being called into question by the German government,'' she said.

''The United States should rather be given room to react to the current leadership crisis in the bank,'' she added.

Germany heads the World Bank's 24-nation board, which will ultimately decide if Wolfowitz stays or goes. The board is scheduled to meet on Friday.

Germany also holds the rotating presidency of the European Union until the end of June.

A French Foreign Ministry spokesman said in an electronic briefing that it was essential the procedure was carried out in an ner.

''We hope that the board meets quickly to say, on the basis of this report and observations, what Mr Wolfowitz could do,'' spokesman Jean-Baptiste Mattei said.

Reuters

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