Dear Colleagues,

The staff of the World Bank have waited, patiently and sometimes impatiently, while the Board has conducted its inquiry into matters relating to the President. We have allowed space for due process and time for all of the facts to come out. These facts, as reflected in the Ad Hoc Group's report and Mr. Wolfowitz's responses, are clear. The outcome should not be in doubt.

The World Bank's Staff Rules are its law and their enforcement is the responsibility of the Board of Directors. When staff members violate the law they are entitled to due process. The President has certainly been accorded a lengthy and even elaborate process. On May 12th, he said he would accept the Board's decision, a decision we urge the Board to reach today and the President to accept forthwith.

The next President should be selected based only on merit and qualifications, after full consultation of all shareholders.