LAOS TO SUPPORT MR. ZOELLICK AS WORLD BANK

UNCLAS VIENTIANE 000451 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/MLS ED BESTIC STATE PASS USED WORLD BANK E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON EFIN IBRD LA SUBJECT: LAOS TO SUPPORT MR. ZOELLICK AS WORLD BANK PRESIDENT REF: STATE 73691 ¶1. (SBU) Econoff met May 30 with Ministry of Foreign Affairs Department of International Cooperation Director General Dr. Bountheuang Mounlasy to request that the Lao Government support Robert B. Zoellick as President of the World Bank (Reftel). After a brief discussion of Mr. Zoellick's qualifications, and a mention by Dr. Bountheuang of a possible candidacy by Prime Minister Tony Blair of Great Britain, Dr. Bountheuang agreed to cable the Lao Embassy in Washington and instruct them to support Mr. Zoellick. Econoff requested that any public support occur after the President officially nominates Mr. Zoellick. ¶2. (SBU) Comment: Dr. Bountheuang's positive attitude toward U.S. leadership of the World Bank and willingness to support Mr. Zoellick's nomination came as a surprise. That he would commit to instruct the Lao Embassy to support the nomination, without asking for time to check with his superiors, was a greater surprise and is unusual for Laos. We understand that Dr. Bountheuang is soon to leave his post and move overseas as an Ambassador himself. End Comment. MCGEEHAN