WASHINGTON, April 14 (UPI) -- The United States and its major allies Thursday named outgoing World Bank President James Wolfensohn as a special envoy for the Middle East.
The Quartet -- the European Union, Russia, the United Nations and the United States -- named Wolfensohn special envoy for Gaza disengagement. The group backs the "road map" peace plan between Israel and the Palestinians.
"Mr. Wolfensohn will focus his efforts on two areas: first, Palestinian-Israeli coordination concerning the non-military aspects of the withdrawal, including the disposition of the assets that will be left behind; and second, the revival of the Palestinian economy in the wake of the withdrawal," U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice said.
Israel's planned withdrawal from the Gaza Strip begins later this year.
Wolfensohn is stepping down as World Bank president June 1, to be replaced by U.S. Deputy Defense Secretary Paul Wolfowitz.
