Istanbul to host 2009 IMF and World Bank meetings

Istanbul will host the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank in 2009, returning the meetings to Europe for the first time in six years. ‘‘It’s one of the most economically successful countries in the Muslim world which I think makes it potentially important as an example,’’ World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz said in an interview on Thursday. ‘‘It has the prospect of being one of the biggest countries in the EU, which makes it important.’’ The decision was made by the board members of the bank and the IMF, Wolfowitz said.

The meetings will come as Turkey attempts to join the European Union. Beginning talks in October, Turkey faces more public opposition in Europe than other aspiring members because of its size, poverty and history. Turkey’s population of 72 million is larger than that of any EU nation except Germany. Its per-capita wealth is a third of the bloc’s level. In addition, Turkey would be the EU’s first mainly Muslim member.