Shaha Riza

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Shaha Riza
Shaha Riza

Shaha Ali Riza, (Arabic: شاها علي رضا‎) (born 1953 or 1954), is a World Bank staffer who is currently on external assignment. She was forced to leave her position as Senior Communications Officer (and acting manager of external affairs) for the Middle East and North Africa Regional Office at the World Bank when Paul Wolfowitz was brought in as President. Riza had already been romantically linked to Wolfowitz when he was the Deputy Secretary of Defense under Donald Rumsfeld in the Bush Administration.[1] Riza now serves (still on external assignment from the World Bank) with the Foundation for the Future, a "semi-independent foundation to promote democracy" in the Middle East and North Africa.[2]

Contents

[edit] Background

Riza was born in Tripoli, Libya, to a Libyan father (Khalid Alwalid Algargany) and Syrian-Saudi mother. She grew up in Tunisia, Saudi Arabia, and the United Kingdom. She is a British citizen. She moved to the United States after her marriage to Bulent Ali Riza, also spelled Bulent Aliriza, (born 1952) in the late 1980s. Riza studied at the London School of Economics before taking a master's degree in International Relations from the University of Oxford (1983), where she studied at St Antony's College. She speaks Arabic, English, French, Italian, and Turkish.[3] She is divorced and has one son who lives with her. Her father was a consultant to King Saud of Saudi Arabia. Her mother lives in Libya.

Riza specializes in the Middle East and has carried out field research in a number of Arab countries. Immediately before joining the World Bank, she worked at the National Endowment for Democracy, where she set up and led the endowment’s Middle East programs. Since joining the World Bank in 1997, she worked with the Middle East and North Africa Social and Economic Development Group as a Senior Gender Specialist and then as a Senior Communications Officer in the Middle East and North Africa Regional Office (MENA). In July 2002, she became the acting manager for external affairs and outreach for the World Bank's MENA region, a position she held until she was required to relinquish her job in the wake of the Wolfowitz hiring. According to a profile of Wolfowitz published in the London Sunday Times of March 20, 2005, Riza "shares Wolfowitz’s passion for spreading democracy in the Arab world" and "is said to have reinforced his determination to remove Saddam Hussein’s oppressive regime."[4]

Nevertheless, the New York Post's page six on May 23, 2007, reported that Riza and Wolfowitz have split up. Riza reportedly was concerned "by the implication that she was getting ahead with the help of a powerful man."[5]

[edit] Wolfowitz scandal

By December 2000, the Daily Mail (London) reported that Wolfowitz was allegedly having an affair with a staffer at SAIS. He had also become smitten with Riza.[1]

According to Craig Unger, author of Fall of the House of Bush, "Wolfowitz's critics who knew about the affair delighted in referring to Shaha Riza as 'his neoconcubine.'" Cheney had wanted to appoint Wolfowitz as head of the CIA, but Clare Wolfowitz -- angry about her husband's affair -- wrote a letter notifying President-elect Bush that it posed a national security risk. The letter was intercepted by Scooter Libby, who informed Cheney.[2],[3]

In March 2005, Riza's neighbors began to speak to the press about her personal relationship with Paul Wolfowitz, who had been nominated by the Bush administration for President of the World Bank despite reported concern from some other Bank member countries. British tabloids played up the story; one opponent at the Bank said: "Unless Riza gives up her job, this will be an impossible conflict of interest."[6] Meanwhile, some of the Arab media expressed surprise that Wolfowitz, given his career reputation as a neo-conservative and background (a second generation American born to a Polish Jewish immigrant family), would date an Arab Muslim.[7]

Wolfowitz was confirmed as World Bank President in June 2005. According to a dossier released by the World Bank[8], Wolfowitz had acknowledged his association with Riza in May. The relationship threatened to violate a World Bank ethics rule against personal relationships between bank employees and their supervisors, including indirect supervision through a chain of command. Wolfowitz's position was that Riza should be allowed to keep her job at the bank if he recused himself from all personnel actions or decisions that involved her. [9] The Ethics Committee responded that recusal was not good enough and that Riza would have to be reassigned outside Wolfowitz's managerial control, direct or indirect. The committee considered various options for compensating Riza for the disruption to her career. [10] It advised an in situ promotion. [11]

According to the dossier, Wolfowitz responded to these findings of the Ethics Committee by dictating the terms of Riza's settlement to the Bank's Vice President for Human Resources, Xavier Coll. Riza would be offered a paid external assignment with the State Department, a promotion at the World Bank before the assignment to a tax-free salary of $180,000, and an automatic annual raise of 8 percent. Wolfowitz told the Ethics Committee on August 12 that Coll and Riza had reached an agreement; the formal offer came in September. On October 24, the Ethics Committee concluded that the external posting meant that the conflict of interest had been resolved.[12] However, the then-chairman of the Ethics Committee, Ad Melkert, has denied that he was advised of the details of the settlement. [13]

Riza's position in the State Department was in the office of Elizabeth Cheney (daughter of Dick Cheney), who worked at the time for C. David Welch, the Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs. Later she transferred from the State Department to the Foundation for the Future.

In February 2006, pseudonymous e-mail messages to the World Bank corruption hotline accused Wolfowitz of ethical violations in regard to compensation to Shaha Riza, as well as to his advisors Robin Cleveland and Kevin Kellems. In response, the Ethics Committee reported that the "allegations did not appear appropriate for further consideration by the committee".[14]

In 2007, the Washington Post reported that Riza's salary had increased from $132,660 to $193,590 per year, tax-exempt.[15] This article led to a cascade of news coverage and demands for Wolfowitz's resignation.[16] A new ad hoc investigation was set up at the World Bank. Shaha Riza wrote the committee that she was a victim in the case, arguing that the conflict-of-interest concern was spurious from the beginning and that she never wanted to leave the World Bank.[17]

In contrast to claims made earlier by Wolfowitz's office, the Washington Post reported that (i) Wolfowitz had directly dictated the terms of the contract to the head of human resources, Coll, (ii) the Bank's top lawyer had been excluded from the negotiation of the contract, and (iii) neither the Bank's board nor the Ethics Committee had been informed at the time of the specific terms of the final agreement. The then-chair of the Ethics Committee, Ad Melkert, has emphasized the last point.[18]

On April 12, 2007, Wolfowitz apologized for what he called a "mistake," but would not comment about resigning as World Bank governors met on April 15. With the Board of Executive Directors still reviewing the details of the case, Wolfowitz commented, "I'm not going to preempt their [the Board's] deliberations. I will accept any remedies they propose."[19]

On April 17, 2007, the opinion column of The Wall Street Journal published a viewpoint on the scandal that provided often overlooked details and characterized the "scandal" as a witch hunt.[20] Likewise, The Los Angeles Times published an op-ed calling it "a non story" and a "bum rap".[21]

The New York Times called for Wolfowitz's resignation on April 28, 2007, saying that "The best thing Paul Wolfowitz can do for the World Bank, the country and himself is to step down."[22]

On May 17, 2007 it was announced that Wolfowitz would resign effective June 30, 2007.

[edit] Autobiography and publication list

[edit] References

  1. ^ "World Bank meets over Wolfowitz", BBC News, 2007-04-13. 
  2. ^ Steven R. Weisman. "Turmoil Grows for World Bank Chief", The New York Times, 2007-04-13. 
  3. ^ Companion of Wolfowitz Rejects Portrayal - New York Times
  4. ^ "Profile: Paul Wolfowitz: Hawk with a Lot of Loot Needs a Bit of Lady Luck", The Sunday Times. Retrieved on 2007-04-18. 
  5. ^ Wolfowitz And Gal Pal Split Up
  6. ^ Churcher, Sharon; Annette Witheridge. "Will a British divorcee cost 'Wolfie' his job?", Daily Mail, 20th March 2005. Retrieved on 2007-04-14. 
  7. ^ Ferguson, Barbara. "Wolfowitz Dating Muslim Woman Causes Stir", Arab News, 23 March 2005. Retrieved on 2007-04-14. 
  8. ^ "Ethics Committee Case No 2 and President Papers" (pdf) (12 April 2007). World Bank Release. 
  9. ^ July 21 memo to Ethics Board Proposed Recusal Language
    • In order to avoid any conflict of interest, real or apparent, ...I recuse myself from any personnel decisions or actions with respect to Ms. Shaha Riza. To further insure any personnel action or decision bearing on Ms, Riza's employment is consistent both with her rights as an employee and with my recusal and that no influence real or apparent, has been implied or assumed, I direct the Human Resources notify the Ethics Committee of any personnel action or decision concerning Ms. Riza and provide the Committee with any information to insure all appropriate Bank standards, rules and regulations have been properly upheld and enforced. "Ethics Committee Case No 2 and President Papers" (pdf) . World Bank Release: page 73. 
  10. ^ "Ethics Committee Case No 2 and President Papers" (pdf) (April 12, 2007). World Bank Release: pages 25-28. 
  11. ^ July 27 memo:"the EC has noted the proposed recusal. At this point the EC does not consider recusal sufficient...The EC advises
    • a) that the staff member will be relocated...and therefore withdraw from the current selection procedure for job promotion within the MENA department... b) ...disruption of the staff member's career prospect will be recognized by an in situ promotion... c) the President, with the General Counsel, communicate this to VPMENA and VPHR so as to implement a) and b) with immediate effect.
    "Ethics Committee Case No 2 and President Papers" (pdf) (April 12, 2007). World Bank Release: page 23. 
  12. ^ Oct 24 2005 Chairman Ethics Committee Melkert to Wolfowitz
    • Thank you for your memo dated 12 August...because the outcome is consistent with the Committee's findings and advice above, the Committee concurs with your view that this matter can be treated as closed.
    "Ethics Committee Case No 2 and President Papers" (pdf) (April 12, 2007). World Bank Release: pages 91. 
  13. ^ FT.com / Home UK / UK - World Bank row grows over Wolfowitz partner's pay rise
  14. ^ Feb 28 2006 Melkert (chairman of ethics board) to Wolfowitz
    • ...to inform you that the Ethics Committee has received two e-mails from "John Smith"...sent to the Bank's Investigations Hotline and copied to the Executive Directors. The emails allege ethical lapses by the President...
    • ...the Committee reviewed documents ...pertinent to an understanding of the basis for the allegations....
    • On the basis of a careful review of the above documents ...the Ethics Committee decided that the allegation regarding appointments of Bank staff do not appear to pose ethical issues...The Committee also decided that the allegation relating to a matter ...previously considered did not contain new information warranting any further review...
    "Ethics Committee Case No 2 and President Papers" (pdf) (April 12, 2007). World Bank Release: pages 83. 
  15. ^ Al Kamen. "Where the Money Is", The Washington Post, March 28, 2007. 
  16. ^ Krishna Guha. "Wolfowitz partner’s pay rise sparks protest", Financial Times, April 5, 2007. 
  17. ^ I did not wish to leave the bank. Particularly as the position I had held for three years (acting manager for MENA) was finally open to a competitive process, a request I had made to two consecutive MENA VPs. ...my continued service in the Bank did not break rule 3.04 ("supervisory relationships") ...in eight years of my Bank service I did not directly or indirectly report to Mr. Wolfensohn. (1) ... Mr Wolfowitz had agreed to recuse himself... Nevertheless the Board's Ethics Committee, in its wisdom, without explanation... resolved to ask me without even talking to me, to go on an external assignment contrary to my wishes. I have now been victimized for agreeing to an arrangement I have objected to and...was not in my best interest. My efforts to accommodate the Board's Ethics Committee... has only resulted in the most vicious public attacks on me. As the Committee deliberates... I hope it will take into consideration the personal pain and stress my son and I have been subjected to...I hope that the committee will ... bring an end to the unwarranted and malicious public and private attacks which would not have happened had the Bank not failed to honour the agreement signed with me. I also hope the Committee will hold all those responsible for this breach of agreement and for violating staff rule 2.01 "Confidentiality of Personal Information" accountable.
    1. prior World Bank President
    "Ethics Committee Case No 2 and President Papers" (pdf) (April 12, 2007). World Bank Release: pages 78. 
  18. ^ Wolfowitz Apologizes For 'Mistake' - washingtonpost.com
  19. ^ "Wolfowitz sorry for 'mistake'", Finance24, 2007-04-12. 
  20. ^ The Wall Street Journal Online - Featured Article
  21. ^ Wedgwood, Ruth. "The Wolfowitz non-story", The Los Angeles Times, 2007-04-17. Retrieved on 2007-04-30. 
  22. ^ Far Past Time to Go - New York Times

[edit] External links


Persondata
NAME Riza, Shaha Ali
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION World Bank staffer
DATE OF BIRTH born 1953 or 1954
PLACE OF BIRTH Tripoli, Libya
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH