美國總統(tǒng)布什5月30日正式提名美國前首席貿易代表佐利克擔任世界銀行行長，以替代因“女友門”丑聞即將離職的沃爾福威茨。布什認為佐利克豐富的金融與外交經(jīng)驗可以讓他勝任世行行長的工作。
President
Bush says he wants former U.S. trade representative Robert Zoellick to head the
World Bank. VOA White House Correspondent Scott Stearns reports, Zoellick would
replace Paul Wolfowitz, who steps down next month following a scandal over a pay
raise for his girlfriend.
President Bush says Ambassador Zoellick has all the right qualities to head
the World Bank.
"He is a committed internationalist. He has earned the trust
and support of leaders from every region of the world," said Mr. Bush. "He is
deeply devoted to the mission of the World Bank. He wants to help struggling
nations defeat poverty, to grow their economies, and offer their people the hope
of a better life."
The 53-year-old lawyer is currently a top executive at the New York
investment firm Goldman Sachs. As deputy secretary of state in 2005 and 2006,
Zoellick focused on ending violence in Sudan's troubled Darfur region.
Speaking alongside President Bush after Wednesday's announcement, Zoellick
said the World Bank has a vital mission to overcome poverty and despair through
sustainable growth and opportunity.
"In recent years, some developing
countries have achieved access to finance and have boosted growth to impressive
levels," he said. "But too many lands, particularly in Africa, are denied
opportunity because of disease, weak health care, and child mortality, hunger
and poor agricultural infrastructure, lack of good schools, discrimination
against girls and women, unsound governance and corruption, the want of property
rights and the rule of law and endangered environment, and impediments to
business, investment, economic liberty, entrepreneurs, trade, and a thriving
free-market economy."
Zoellick was the U.S. trade representative from 2001 to 2005 and helped
launch the Doha round of world trade talks. He worked on free trade agreements
with Singapore, Chile, Australia, and Morocco and oversaw trade talks with five
nations of Central America and the Dominican Republic, as well as Bahrain,
Jordan, Vietnam, Panama, Thailand, and the Southern African Customs Union.
Zoellick follows outgoing Bank chief Wolfowitz who is being forced to step
down next month, two years into his five-year term. Bank employees and many
European contributors complained about Wolfowitz's management style and his role
in securing a sizeable pay raise for his girlfriend.
Following the Wolfowitz scandal, executive directors of the Bank issued a
statement saying the essential qualities of the next leader include a proven
track record of leadership and political objectivity and independence.
Zoellick did not mention Wolfowitz by name but said the World Bank has passed
through a difficult time for all involved. He said there are frustrations,
anxieties and tensions about the past that may inhibit the future, but he vowed
to put the discord behind. He said the Bank's best days are still to come.
The United States is the World Bank's largest donor, and the American
president has chosen its chief since the 185-member group was founded following
the Second World War. European nations, in turn, choose the head of the
International Monetary Fund. Zoellick's nomination must now be approved by the
World Bank's 24-member board of governors.
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（來源：VOA 英語點津姍姍編輯）
