Wolfowitz is backed for bank

March 31, 2005|Associated Press

BRUSSELS -- European Union officials expressed support yesterday for US nominee Paul Wolfowitz as head of the World Bank after he promised to work closely with them and said he would make fighting poverty his top priority.

The architect of the Iraq war also tried to soothe European concerns about his reputation as a unilateralist with little experience in development issues.

Wolfowitz struck a markedly conciliatory tone after a two-hour session with development and finance ministers at European Union headquarters.

Wolfowitz, whose nomination is expected to be approved today, said he was ''eager to take on this challenge" of heading the bank.

''Helping people lift themselves out of poverty is truly a noble mission," said Wolfowitz, the US deputy defense secretary.

The United States, as the Washington-based World Bank's largest shareholder, traditionally puts forward a candidate to lead the institution, and the board usually accepts the nomination.

In an unusual move, EU officials had requested Wolfowitz to present his views on development issues to them.