WOLFENSOHN SAYS CRITICS SHOULD TAKE BROADER VIEW.
World Bank President James Wolfensohn Wednesday reiterated his willingness to listen to criticism of the Bank's activities, but also urged his critics to take a broader view about its work, Dow Jones reports. Responding to accusations that the World Bank and other global institutions aren't helping developing nations in the right way, Wolfensohn said he is willing to discuss and listen to the criticism. "Let's discuss it," he said. "But let's not hurl abuse at each other."
Wolfensohn, in Prague to review planning for this fall's annual meetings of the IMF and World Bank, said the Bank has successfully completed many projects around the world that have had a long lasting and beneficial effect on people.
Acknowledging that there will be protests at the upcoming meetings, Wolfensohn said he is "not deterred by demonstrations" and reiterated the Bank's intention to improve the quality of life around the globe.
Meanwhile, Reuters reports that Czech President Vaclav Havel offered on Wednesday to mediate with protest groups planning demonstrations at the IMF and World Bank meetings in Prague in September. Havel said he would organize a forum for discussion with anti-globalization groups at Prague Castle just before the meetings. A senior aide to Havel said the meeting would aim to bring together leaders of the largest protest groups and officials of the financial institutions.