The World Bank said Monday it will promote Shigeru Katsu, regional operations director for Europe and Central Asia, to the post of vice president in charge of the region Aug. 1.

Katsu, 51, a Japanese national who joined the World Bank in 1979, will replace Johannes Linn, who will retire from the Washington-based lending institution.

At a news conference, Katsu voiced concerns over the adverse effects on economic reform efforts in Turkey of a possible war with Iraq.

Katsu also said Japan, as a member of the Group of Seven industrialized countries, should make efforts to boost global economic growth and expand support for poverty eradication.