2007年VOA标准英语-World Bank President Controversy Overshadows Mi

By Mil Arcega
Washington
18 April 2007
 

Embattled World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz is fighting to keep his job after disclosing his involvement in obtaining a substantial pay raise for a female friend.  The controversy¹ has provoked demands for Wolfowitz's resignation. He says that decision is up to the bank's board members.  VOA's Mil Arcega reports.

Paul Wolfowitz, 15 Apr 2007

"I made a mistake for which I am sorry." Despite what some say was a "defiant² apology," World Bank president Paul Wolfowitz says he has no intentions of stepping down. 

But Jean-Louis Sarbib, a former World Bank Senior Vice³ president, says Wolfowitz's actions have damaged the bank's credibility.  "I think it's extremely sad that the World Bank is in the news as a scandal institution at a time when poverty is a very big issue for the rest of the world and where the credibility of the institution and the credibility of its head is absolutely essential.  So I think he should go."

At the center of the controversy is Wolfowitz's admitted involvement in procuring⁴ a promotion⁵ and a pay raise for his girlfriend, Shaha Riza, a former bank advisor⁶.  Documents show that after her transfer to the U.S. State Department, Riza's annual pay jumped from $133,000 to nearly $200,000. 

Wolfowitz said, "I didn't hide anything that I did and, as I said, I am prepared to accept any remedies that the board wants to propose."

Wolfowitz is no stranger to controversy. President Bush appointed the former U.S. Deputy Defense⁷ Secretary two years ago amid protests over Wolfowitz's involvement in promoting the war in Iraq.  Since then Wolfowitz has received praise from leaders of some of the world's poorest countries. 

Liberian Finance Minister Antoinette Sayeh says Wolfowitz has been a strong advocate for African nations. "He has been absolutely supportive, responsive – there for us -- making advocacy that is absolutely essential to getting the international community to do the right thing by these countries and we're very, very grateful to his leadership in getting Liberia to where we are today."

Although few question Wolfowitz's priorities at the World Bank, some say his actions have damaged his own campaign to root out international corruption⁸. 

Dennis de Tray is vice president at the Center for Global Development, a Washington-based think-tank that looks at issues affecting developing countries. "I think it is clearly a problem for the World Bank that its leader, rightly or wrongly, is being accused of violating at least the intent of some of the rules that govern the bank's processes and procedures when he has made such an important pillar of his own administration issues of governance transparency and accountability," he says.

While the European Commission has expressed deep concerns, the United States – the bank's largest shareholder⁹ – is standing¹⁰ by Wolfowitz.  White House spokeswoman Dana Perino recently said, "The president has full confidence in Paul Wolfowitz. He's done a remarkable¹¹ job at the World Bank, where they are working to lift people up out of poverty from around the world.  He's apologized for the matter, and his board is undergoing an internal review. And we expect him to remain as World Bank president."

Although analysts¹² believe the scandal will not have a long-term impact on the World Bank, some say it could force the international community to revisit how the bank selects its leader.

De Tray says, right now, the U.S. government is the sole arbiter¹³. "In this day and age that's not a very good system.  It's neither transparent¹⁴ nor is it merit-based nor does it build the kind of international credibility that a multilateral institution like the World Bank needs.  So it's a good time to step back and ask let's give the next president of the World Bank the kind of international base of credibility that he or she needs to lead a great multi-lateral institution."

World Bank board members say they are reviewing the Wolfowitz controversy but there is no timetable for a decision.

1 controversy   

n.争论，辩论，争吵

参考例句：

• That is a fact beyond controversy.那是一个无可争论的事实。
• We ran the risk of becoming the butt of every controversy.我们要冒使自己在所有的纷争中都成为众矢之的的风险。

2 defiant   

adj.无礼的，挑战的

参考例句：

• With a last defiant gesture,they sang a revolutionary song as they were led away to prison.他们被带走投入监狱时，仍以最后的反抗姿态唱起了一支革命歌曲。
• He assumed a defiant attitude toward his employer.他对雇主采取挑衅的态度。

3 vice   

n.坏事；恶习；[pl.]台钳，老虎钳；adj.副的

参考例句：

• He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
• They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。

4 procuring   

v.（努力）取得， （设法）获得( procure的现在分词 )；拉皮条

参考例句：

• He was accused of procuring women for his business associates. 他被指控为其生意合伙人招妓。 来自辞典例句
• She had particular pleasure, in procuring him the proper invitation. 她特别高兴为他争得这份体面的邀请。 来自辞典例句

5 promotion   

n.提升，晋级；促销，宣传

参考例句：

• The teacher conferred with the principal about Dick's promotion.教师与校长商谈了迪克的升级问题。
• The clerk was given a promotion and an increase in salary.那个职员升了级，加了薪。

6 advisor   

n.顾问，指导老师，劝告者

参考例句：

• They employed me as an advisor.他们聘请我当顾问。
• The professor is engaged as a technical advisor.这位教授被聘请为技术顾问。

7 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

8 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

9 shareholder   

n.股东，股票持有人

参考例句：

• The account department have prepare a financial statement for the shareholder.财务部为股东准备了一份财务报表。
• A shareholder may transfer his shares in accordance with the law.股东持有的股份可以依法转让。

10 standing   

n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的

参考例句：

• After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
• They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。

11 remarkable   

adj.显著的，异常的，非凡的，值得注意的

参考例句：

• She has made remarkable headway in her writing skills.她在写作技巧方面有了长足进步。
• These cars are remarkable for the quietness of their engines.这些汽车因发动机没有噪音而不同凡响。

12 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

13 arbiter   

n.仲裁人，公断人

参考例句：

• Andrew was the arbiter of the disagreement.安德鲁是那场纠纷的仲裁人。
• Experiment is the final arbiter in science.实验是科学的最后仲裁者。

14 transparent   

adj.明显的，无疑的；透明的

参考例句：

• The water is so transparent that we can see the fishes swimming.水清澈透明，可以看到鱼儿游来游去。
• The window glass is transparent.窗玻璃是透明的。