Wolfowitz to change, not resign

WASHINGTON – World Bank chief Paul Wolfowitz met with top managers to discuss ways of changing his leadership style amid a favouritism scandal that has prompted calls for him to resign, a US media report said yesterday.

The Washington Post said the major development lender’s American president held a brief meeting Monday in which he said he was considering a “coach” to help him change his leadership style, without indicating its sources. The newspaper also said Wolfowitz had hired a top defence lawyer, Robert S Bennett, to represent him as the bank reviews his role in the matter.Bennett is a former federal prosecutor who acted for ex-US President Bill Clinton in a sexual harassment case against him in 1998.It quoted Bennett as saying in an interview that he wanted “to make sure (Wolfowitz’s) rights are fully protected” after the bank announced it would probe possible conflicts of interest and “ethical” standards in his conduct.It also quoted him as saying that Wolfowitz would not resign, stating that he met with the embattled bank president over the weekend.”He feels people are trying to interfere with his job to get at world poverty, and he wants to get this thing behind him so that he can concentrate 100 per cent of his effort,” the newspaper quoted Bennett as saying.More than 40 senior former World Bank officials called in a newspaper letter Monday for Wolfowitz to resign over revelations that he used his influence to ensure a favourable job and salary for his girlfriend, a World Bank employee.The White House has staunchly backed Wolfowitz in the affair.The revelation that he ordered a salary worth nearly US$200 000 for his girlfriend, Shaha Riza, in 2005 left him open to accusations of hypocrisy as he steers a controversial campaign against corruption in the bank’s lending.Wolfowitz told senior managers he appreciated their “brainstorming” on ways to improve bank management, yesterday’s report said.The bank was not immediately available for comment.Nampa-AFPThe newspaper also said Wolfowitz had hired a top defence lawyer, Robert S Bennett, to represent him as the bank reviews his role in the matter.Bennett is a former federal prosecutor who acted for ex-US President Bill Clinton in a sexual harassment case against him in 1998.It quoted Bennett as saying in an interview that he wanted “to make sure (Wolfowitz’s) rights are fully protected” after the bank announced it would probe possible conflicts of interest and “ethical” standards in his conduct.It also quoted him as saying that Wolfowitz would not resign, stating that he met with the embattled bank president over the weekend.”He feels people are trying to interfere with his job to get at world poverty, and he wants to get this thing behind him so that he can concentrate 100 per cent of his effort,” the newspaper quoted Bennett as saying.More than 40 senior former World Bank officials called in a newspaper letter Monday for Wolfowitz to resign over revelations that he used his influence to ensure a favourable job and salary for his girlfriend, a World Bank employee.The White House has staunchly backed Wolfowitz in the affair.The revelation that he ordered a salary worth nearly US$200 000 for his girlfriend, Shaha Riza, in 2005 left him open to accusations of hypocrisy as he steers a controversial campaign against corruption in the bank’s lending.Wolfowitz told senior managers he appreciated their “brainstorming” on ways to improve bank management, yesterday’s report said.The bank was not immediately available for comment.Nampa-AFP