Original report from Phnom Penh
02 August 2007
New World Bank President Robert Zoellick will arrive in Cambodia Saturday, the international lender said in a statement Thursday.
Zoellick is expected to meet with Cambodian officials, including Prime Minister Hun Sen, Finance Minister Keat Chhon and representatives of aid organizations, to try to understand the problems Cambodia is facing.
Opposition lawmaker Son Chhay urged the World Bank to push Cambodia to fight corruption and deforestation.
The World Bank has faced criticism in the past for its support of Cambodia despite rampant deforestation and illegal logging.
In 2005, the government's former private forestry monitor, Global Witness, accused the World Bank of "support for rogue logging companies" and ignoring the principles of good governance and poverty reduction.
Zoellick's visit is his first as president in an Asia-Pacific sweep. He became president following the ouster of Paul Wolfowitz, who was forced to resign in the wake of a favoritism scandal.
Zoellick is expected to meet with Cambodian officials, including Prime Minister Hun Sen, Finance Minister Keat Chhon and representatives of aid organizations, to try to understand the problems Cambodia is facing.
Opposition lawmaker Son Chhay urged the World Bank to push Cambodia to fight corruption and deforestation.
The World Bank has faced criticism in the past for its support of Cambodia despite rampant deforestation and illegal logging.
In 2005, the government's former private forestry monitor, Global Witness, accused the World Bank of "support for rogue logging companies" and ignoring the principles of good governance and poverty reduction.
Zoellick's visit is his first as president in an Asia-Pacific sweep. He became president following the ouster of Paul Wolfowitz, who was forced to resign in the wake of a favoritism scandal.
No comments:
Post a Comment