Finance ministers responsible for World Bank development policies opened talks here Monday that are expected to focus on implementing fresh measures to ease the debt burden carried by poor countries.
The 24-member Development Committee, which convenes twice a year, advises both the Bank and the International Monetary Fund on the transfer of resources from the developed to the developing world.
Bank policies are currently under sharp attack from ecology activists who say the institution's preference for large-scale infrastructure projects -- such as dams and oil pipelines -- degrade the environment and displace local people.
But Bank officials insist that more and more of their lending is now earmarked for community-based social projects carried out in conjunction with local authorities.
At Monday's meeting the Development Committee is expected to give further attention to measures announced here Sunday aimed at speeding up the delivery of debt relief under a joint World Bank-IMF initiative.
World Bank President James Wolfensohn is to address a press conference here later in the day following the talks -- PRAGUE (AFP)
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