    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book I)]
    [April 8, 2003]
    [Pages 328-329]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 328]]

    Joint Statement by President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Tony
    Blair of the United Kingdom on Iraq
    April 8, 2003

        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 by Iraq's weapons of mass destruction,
    deliver humanitarian aid, and secure the freedom of the Iraqi people. We
    will 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 and
    professionalism in the face of great danger. We mourn for the members of
    the Armed Forces who have sacrificed their 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 civilian casualties. The Iraqi regime
    has done the opposite. It has deliberately put Iraqi civilians in harm's
    way, and used women and children as human shields. It has sent execution
    squads to kill Iraqis who choose freedom over fighting 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 and international law.
        We are taking every step possible to safeguard Muslim holy sites and
    other protected places in Iraq that are important to the religious and
    cultural heritage of Islam and of Iraq. We have no confidence that the
    Iraqi regime has done the same, and are deeply concerned by reports that
    it is deliberately endangering such sites and using them for military
    purposes.
        The Coalition is delivering food, medicine, and other humanitarian
    assistance to the Iraqi people. This flow will increase as more of
    Iraq's territory is liberated and United Nations specialized agencies
    and non-governmental organizations are better able to operate. We
    welcome the adoption by the United Nations Security Council of
    Resolution 1472, which will allow shipments of humanitarian items to
    Iraq to resume under the Oil for Food program.
        As we said at our March 16 meeting in the Azores, we will uphold our
    responsibility to help the people of Iraq build a nation that is whole,
    free and at peace with itself and its neighbors. We support the
    aspirations of all of Iraq's people for a united, representative
    government that upholds human rights and the rule of law as cornerstones
    of democracy. We reaffirm our commitment to protect Iraq's natural
    resources, as the patrimony of 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 bilateral donors, and with the United
    Nations and other international institutions. The United Nations has a
    vital role to play in the reconstruction of Iraq. We welcome the efforts
    of U.N. agencies and non-governmental organizations in providing
    immediate assistance to the people of Iraq. As we stated in the Azores,
    we plan to seek the adoption of new United Nations Security Council
    resolutions that would affirm Iraq's territorial integrity, ensure rapid
    delivery of humanitarian relief, and endorse an appropriate post-
    conflict administration for Iraq. We welcome the appointment by the
    United Nations Secretary General of a Special
    Adviser for Iraq

    [[Page 329]]

    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 of an Iraqi Interim Authority, a
    transitional administration, run by Iraqis, until a permanent government
    is established by the people of Iraq. The Interim Authority will be
    broad-based and fully representative, with members from all of Iraq's
    ethnic groups, regions and diaspora. The Interim Authority will be
    established first and foremost by the Iraqi people, with the help of the
    members of the Coalition, and working with the Secretary General of the
    United Nations. As coalition forces advance, civilian Iraqi leaders will
    emerge who can be part of such an Interim Authority. The Interim
    Authority will progressively assume more of the functions of government.
    It will provide a means for Iraqis to participate in the economic and
    political reconstruction of their country from the outset.
        Coalition forces will remain in Iraq as long as necessary to help
    the Iraqi people to build their own political institutions and
    reconstruct their country, but no longer. We look forward to welcoming a
    liberated Iraq to the international community of nations. We call upon
    our partners in the international community to join with us in ensuring
    a democratic and secure future for the Iraqi people.

    Note: An original was not available for verification of the content of
    this joint statement.