'The Future Of Iraq Belongs To The Iraqi People'

The future of Iraq belongs to the Iraqi people. After years of dictatorship, Iraq will soon be liberated.For the first time in decades, Iraqis will soon choose their own representative government.

Coalition military operations are progressing and will succeed. We will eliminate the threat posed byIraq's weapons of mass destruction, deliver humanitarian aid, and secure the freedom of the Iraqi people. Wewill create an environment where Iraqis can determine their own fate democratically and peacefully.

We are grateful to our men and women in uniform, as well as to the brave troops of Australia and Poland,and to forces contributed by other members of the Coalition. They have demonstrated enormous bravery andprofessionalism in the face of great danger. We mourn for the members of the Armed Forces who have sacrificedtheir lives, and extend our deepest sympathies to their families.

We also grieve for the loss of civilian life in Iraq. Coalition forces take great care to avoid civiliancasualties. The Iraqi regime has done the opposite. It has deliberately put Iraqi civilians in harm's way, andused women and children as human shields. It has sent execution squads to kill Iraqis who choose freedom overfighting for a brutal regime. We condemn Iraqi regime forces' attacks in civilian clothing, false surrender,and mistreatment of prisoners of war. These acts are an affront to all standards of human decency andinternational law.

We are taking every step possible to safeguard Muslim holy sites and other protected places in Iraq thatare important to the religious and cultural heritage of Islam and of Iraq. We have no confidence that theIraqi regime has done the same, and are deeply concerned by reports that it is deliberately endangering suchsites and using them for military purposes.

The Coalition is delivering food, medicine, and other humanitarian assistance to the Iraqi people. Thisflow will increase as more of Iraq's territory is liberated and United Nations specialized agencies andnon-governmental organizations are better able to operate. We welcome the adoption by the United NationsSecurity Council of Resolution 1472, which will allow shipments of humanitarian items to Iraq to resume underthe Oil for Food program.

As we said at our March 16 meeting in the Azores, we will uphold our responsibility to help the people ofIraq build a nation that is whole, free and at peace with itself and its neighbors. We support the aspirationsof all of Iraq's people for a united, representative government that upholds human rights and the rule of lawas cornerstones of democracy. We reaffirm our commitment to protect Iraq's natural resources, as the patrimonyof the people of Iraq, which should be used only for their benefit.

As the Coalition proceeds with the reconstruction of Iraq, it will work with its allies, other bilateraldonors, and with the United Nations and other international institutions. The United Nations has a vital roleto play in the reconstruction of Iraq. We welcome the efforts of U.N. agencies and non-governmentalorganizations in providing immediate assistance to the people of Iraq. As we stated in the Azores, we plan toseek the adoption of new United Nations Security Council resolutions that would affirm Iraq's territorialintegrity, ensure rapid delivery of humanitarian relief, and endorse an appropriate post-conflictadministration for Iraq. We welcome the appointment by the United Nations Secretary General of a SpecialAdviser for Iraq to work with the people of Iraq and coalition representatives.

The day when Iraqis govern themselves must come quickly. As early as possible, we support the formation ofan Iraqi Interim Authority, a transitional administration, run by Iraqis, until a permanent government isestablished by the people of Iraq. The Interim Authority will be broad-based and fully representative, withmembers from all of Iraq's ethnic groups, regions and diaspora. The Interim Authority will be establishedfirst and foremost by the Iraqi people, with the help of the members of the Coalition, and working with theSecretary General of the United Nations. As coalition forces advance, civilian Iraqi leaders will emerge whocan be part of such an Interim Authority. The Interim Authority will progressively assume more of thefunctions of government. It will provide a means for Iraqis to participate in the economic and politicalreconstruction of their country from the outset.

Coalition forces will remain in Iraq as long as necessary to help the Iraqi people to build their ownpolitical institutions and reconstruct their country, but no longer. We look forward to welcoming a liberatedIraq to the international community of nations. We call upon our partners in the international community tojoin with us in ensuring a democratic and secure future for the Iraqi people.