    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (1999, Book II)]
    [September 28, 1999]
    [Pages 1621-1622]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on James D. Wolfensohn's
    Decision To Serve a Second Term as World Bank President
    September 28, 1999

        I am very pleased that Jim Wolfensohn will serve a second term as
    World Bank president. During a precarious period for the world economy,
    Jim has shown a true passion for helping people who live in the poorest
    countries of the world weather the financial crisis and making

    [[Page 1622]]

    sure they have a voice in decisions that affect them.
        Jim's hands-on style has served the World Bank well. He has traveled
    to more than 100 countries to see for himself what is working and what
    needs to be done to create jobs, improve education, fight hunger, and
    attack diseases like AIDS. And he has shown an abiding commitment to
    reinventing the World Bank to make sure that it is equipped to meet the
    challenges of globalization. In addition to improving governance and
    broadening participation, he has been working hard to improve
    transparency and clamp down on corruption.
        His leadership, imagination, and deep moral commitment make him an
    outstanding choice for the World Bank as it enters the next century.