By Matthew Russell Lee
WASHINGTON DC, April 14 -- Minutes after Robert Zoellick touted the World Bank's engagement with civil society in the Arab world, Inner City Press asked him if the Bank has had any contacts with the Libyan Transitional National Council based in Benghazi.
No, Zoellick answered, since its founding in 1944 the World Bank can deal “only with established governments.” He went on to describe World Bank assistance to those fleeing Libya, referring to a program with Bangladesh to get its nationals out and provide then assistance once back in Bangladesh.
But Bangladesh's Permanent Representative to the UN has told Inner City Press that most of his nationals remained trapped in Libya, unlike for example Belgium which immediately flew its 78 citizens out.
Zoellick implied that some part of the $500 million program just announced with Tunisia will help those fleeing Libya to that country. We'll see.
Inner City Press also asked Zoellick about Yemen, whether World Bank programs continue there and what it would take to change that -- that is, if there is a limit to the repression that the World Bank would accept.
Zoellick replied that nearly all of the World Bank's international staff have been removed from the country for safety reasons, although a “resident” remains to work on “the bank [or Bank?] brief” there. He mused that the World Bank likes to watch things, to be ready. But ready for what? Watch this site.
