Wolfowitz EU visit charms press

Wolfowitz stressed his wish to co-operate with Europe

European newspapers give extensive coverage to Wednesday's visit by US Deputy Defence Secretary Paul Wolfowitz to Europe ahead of his likely appointment as president of the World Bank.

The overall view is that the reputed leading architect of the Iraq war was on a charm offensive to win over elements in "Old Europe" that might suspect him of being too closely tied to the US government to serve as an independent World Bank president.

In Germany, the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung notes Mr Wolfowitz's expressed desire not only to promote development aid but also to protect peace and freedom. He "showed understanding of his critics", it adds.

Die Welt calls him "one of the intellectual proponents of the Iraq war" but sees his aim as being to "soothe the displeasure of many Europeans over his nomination" during his visit to Brussels.

The Sueddeutsche Zeitung dubs Mr Wolfowitz a "representative of neo-conservative unilateralism" who is "tame enough to be handled", and assures its readers that the incoming president has no intention of changing things at the bank. "He showed understanding of his critics", the paper says.

Spain's ABC agrees, saying Mr Wolfowitz showed his conciliatory side and secured EU backing to become head of the World Bank.

Portugal's Diario de Noticias reports EU support after Mr Wolfowitz's "charm offensive yesterday in Brussels", while Publico says he had to promise to work with a "truly multinational" team and to dedicate himself entirely to fighting poverty in order to obtain the backing.

"Talons drawn in"

The French press is more cautious, but broadly echoes the consensus that Mr Wolfowitz tried hard to win over the Europeans.

"Wolfowitz draws in his claws to seduce the Europeans," reads Le Figaro's headline, adding that he was "wise enough to make a detour via the Brussels square on the international chess board".

The paper sees this as his abandonment of a unilateralist image for that of an international civil servant, and decides that it worked - if only because Europe "covets other prestigious posts in international institutions, and knows that it will soon need Washington's support".

The left-wing Liberation agrees that he won European Union backing due to strategic considerations.

"A new row would likely frustrate the objectives of several players, who are pushing their own candidates for international posts," it says in an article replete with images of Mr Wolfowitz as a "wolf donning sheep's clothing" and a "hawk drawing in his talons".

Le Monde gives Mr Wolfowitz little benefit of the doubt, saying that he did not promise Europe a World Bank vice-presidency and restricted himself to general statements about fighting poverty.

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