[DEBATE] : Zoellick a Poor Choice to Head the World Bank

[MFleshman at aol.com]

GLOBAL AIDS ALLIANCE

Robert Zoellick a Poor Choice to Head the World  Bank

Contact:  David Bryden, 1-202-789-0432 x 211 or mobile  1-202-549-3664

Washington, May 29 -- Today President Bush selected  Ambassador Robert
Zoellick as his candidate to head the World Bank.   Zoellick is the former US
Trade Representative.  

Dr. Paul Zeitz,  Executive Director of the Global AIDS Alliance responded:  

"From a  public health standpoint, Zoellick is a terrible choice for World
Bank  President.  Zoellick has no significant experience in  economic
development in poor countries.  

He has been a close  friend to the brand-name pharmaceutical industry, and
the bilateral trade  agreements he has negotiated effectively block access to
generic medication  for millions of people.  This is terrible for AIDS
patients, most of  whom cannot afford brand-name prices.  

Currently, the World Bank  allows countries to use its aid to purchase
generic medications, and it has  defended the right of countries, such as
Thailand, to issue compulsory  licenses to secure access to affordable
medications.  But, we fear this  could change under Zoellick.

Zoellick, as a free market fundamentalist,  seems unlikely to back the kind
of flexible macroeconomic policy countries  need to increase their health
sector budgets in the face of the AIDS  crisis.

As an early backer of US military action in Iraq, and as a former  paid
advisor to Enron, the infamous energy company, Zoellick brings  significant
baggage with him.  

The other members of the World  Bank Board should reject  Zoellick's
candidacy."

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