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The board establishes the record of a fair process. The board of executive directors issued the following statement to explain why it is taking too long to resolve the crisis "expeditiously" !.

The announcement includes a detailed chronology of events, just to make sure that Wolfowitz can't blame them for not giving him a fair hearing. Here is the statement in full:

Communication from the Executive Directors
May 9, 2007

COMMUNICATION FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS

Washington, May 9, 2007 - The Executive Directors met today to consider a request from the President for additional time to comment on the draft report of the ad hoc group, which was provided to him on May 6. They have informed the President that they agree with the recommendation of the group to extend the period for his final comments on the group’s draft report to the close of business on May 11. After considering the President’s comments, the group will complete its report.

The Executive Directors have informed the President that he will have an opportunity to meet them on Tuesday afternoon, May 15, to communicate his views in person, if he wishes to do so. They will then consider all the information available and reach their decisions.

The report being prepared by the ad hoc group will permit an effective and orderly resolution of the matter, following fair process and careful deliberation. The Executive Directors are releasing a chronology of key events of the process as background.

CHRONOLOGY

This document sets forth the chronology of key events starting April 9, 2007, when the Ad Hoc Group (AHG) of Executive Directors commenced its work to acquire information related to the present matter.

April 9, 2007

At his request, Mr. Wolfowitz met with the AHG to present his views.
Mr. Wolfowitz gave the AHG 25 documents (the “President’s Papers”) including a written statement from Ms. Riza.
The AHG also met with Ms. Palacio and Messrs. Coll, Danino and Canuto.

April 10, 2007

The AHG met with Mr. Melkert by videoconference.

April 11, 2007

The AHG had a further meeting with Mr. Wolfowitz and a further meeting with Mr. Coll.
The AHG gave Mr. Wolfowitz for comment the draft of its April 11 report prior to dissemination to the Executive Directors.

April 12, 2007

At his request, Mr. Wolfowitz met with the Executive Directors to discuss the matter.
The Board met to consider the report of the AHG and, with the consent of Mr. Wolfowitz and others, made the documentation collected as of that date publicly available.
The documents made public on April 12 were: (1) the April 11 AHG Report; (2) the President’s Papers; and (3) the Record of Ethics Committee Deliberations on Case No. 2 (“EC Record”).

April 14, 2007

Mr. Wolfowitz released a document with direct quotes from the documents previously released on April 12 to call attention to a number of those documents.

April 19, 2007

The Executive Directors met and issued overnight a communication (dated April 20) requesting the AHG,

“…to consider immediately the arrangements made for the secondment of the staff member closely associated with the President. In that context, the ad hoc group will consider such other information as it deems appropriate, with reference to, inter alia, the Staff Rules, the Code of Conduct applicable to Board officials and the President, and the contract of the President, and to conflict of interest, ethical, reputational, and other relevant standards. On this basis, the ad hoc group will make early recommendations for decision by the Executive Directors.”

April 20, 2007

Mr. Wolfowitz issued a statement in response to the April 20 communication from the Executive Directors, as follows:

“President Paul Wolfowitz welcomes the decision of the Board to move forward and resolve this very important issue. He looks forward to implementing the recommendations of the Board.”

April 24, 2007

The AHG invited Mr. Wolfowitz to meet with the AHG on April 25 and present his views.

April 25, 2007

Mr. Wolfowitz declined to meet with the AHG, but proposed instead to meet with the AHG the following week after he had had the time to prepare properly.
The AHG agreed that they would meet Mr. Wolfowitz the following week on April 30.
The AHG interviewed Mr. Coll on the record.

April 30, 2007

The AHG interviewed Mr. Wolfowitz on the record. Mr. Wolfowitz read an opening statement.
Mr. Wolfowitz submitted to the AHG a narrative and 21 documents, most of which were included in the President’s Papers previously submitted by the President to the AHG (April 9).
The AHG interviewed Ms. Cleveland and Ms. Riza on the record. Ms. Riza read an opening statement into the record.
The AHG interviewed Mr. Roberto Danino on the record. He also read an opening statement that was publicly available the day of his interview.

May 1, 2007

The AHG interviewed Messrs. Melkert and Canuto on the record. Mr. Melkert read an opening statement that was publicly available the day of his interview.
The AHG interviewed Ms. Ramprasad, Human Resources Manager, on the record.
The AHG again interviewed Mr. Coll, on the record.

May 2, 2007

Mr. Wolfowitz submitted to the AHG a written response to the statements of Mr. Melkert and Mr. Danino (made on April 30 and May 1, respectively).

May 6, 2007

The AHG delivered a draft report to Mr. Wolfowitz in the evening, with the following attachments: (i) the April 11, 2007 AHG Report; (ii) the President’s Papers; (iii) the EC Record; (iv) a written statement by Mr. Coll, with eight documents attached; and (v) transcripts of the eight interviews conducted on April 25, April 30 and May 1.
The AHG asked for Mr. Wolfowitz’s comments by the close of business on May 8.

May 7, 2007

Mr. Wolfowitz requested additional time to no later than May 14, 2007, to prepare his comments on the AHG report.
The AHG granted Mr. Wolfowitz an additional day, until the close-of-business on May 9.

May 8, 2007

The President reiterated his request for more time to respond.

May 9, 2007

The Executive Directors met and issued a communication, including their agreement to extend until the close of business on May 11, the period for Mr. Wolfowitz’s final comments on the AHG’s draft report

A Washington source ~ May 10, 2007

"Keep track of the rumored candidates, power plays and buzz."
The Washington Post

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