Report Issued from Ad Hoc Group - Coll was told he "could not talk to anyone"
Reuters World Bank Panel Finds Wolfowitz Broke Rules
AP Wolfowitz Broke Rules
FT Wolfowitz Broke Bank Rules
Washington, D.C., May 14, 2007 - The World Bank Board of Executive Directors received the second report of the ad hoc group on Monday afternoon. In the interests of transparency they published the report and all associated documentation. They will meet with Mr. Wolfowitz at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday as part of their deliberations on the report.
The report finds Wolfowitz guilty of engaging in an actual conflict of interest, and violating the Bank's Code of Conduct and numerous staff rules.
General Counsel Excluded - Coll silenced
"From the time Ms. Riza presented her terms to Mr. Coll (head of human resources) until Mr. Wolfowitz instructed Mr. Coll to accept those terms, neither Mr. Wolfowitz nor Mr. Coll consulted with Bank counsel concerning whether the terms were in the Bank's interest. Mr. Coll states that during his August 10 meeting with Mr. Wolfowitz and Ms (Robin) Cleveland, they told him he "could not talk to anyone" including the General Counsel about his conversation with Ms. Riza. Mr. Wolfowitz has not denied that the General Counsel was excluded from the negotiations. However, he explains that he did not consult with the General Counsel because he considered the General Counsel to be conflicted from providing advice to both the Ethics Committee and management." (Note 47, page 21 )
No Evidence Wolfowitz disagreed with Ethics Committee advice
"Mr. Wolfowitz states that he had disquiet with his understanding of the advice (of the Ethics Committee) but that he nevertheless followed it. The Ethics Procedures make clear that Mr. Wolfowitz could have taken the matter up with the Executive Directors directly if he did not believe the advice he had been given was correct. He (Wolfowitz) has repeatedly claimed that he protested vehemently to the Ethics Committee that he did not wish to be involved, but the Ad Hoc Group did not find any convincing documentary evidence of such a protest. " (Note 84, page 31)
In its recommendations the ad hoc group asks the Board to consider
1. Whether Mr. Wolfowitz will be able to provide the leadership needed to ensure that the Bank continues to operate to the fullest extent possible in achieving its mandate.
2. To undertake a review of the governance framework of the World Bank Group with the aim of ensuring that it is capable of effectively dealing with the challenges raised for the institution. (page 52)
