    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book I)]
    [March 16, 2003]
    [Pages 275-276]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement of the Atlantic Summit: A Vision for Iraq and the Iraqi People
    March 16, 2003

        Iraq's talented people, rich culture, and tremendous potential have
    been hijacked by Saddam Hussein. His brutal
    regime has reduced a country with a long and proud history to an
    international pariah that oppresses its citizens, started two wars of
    aggression against its neighbors, and still poses a grave threat to the
    security of its region and the world.
        Saddam's defiance of United Nations
    Security Council resolutions demanding the disarmament of his nuclear,
    chemical, biological, and long-range missile capacity has led to
    sanctions on Iraq and has undermined the authority of the U.N. For 12
    years, the international community has tried to persuade him to disarm
    and thereby avoid military conflict, most recently through the unanimous
    adoption of UNSCR 1441. The responsibility is his. If Saddam refuses
    even now to cooperate fully with the United Nations, he brings on
    himself the serious consequences foreseen in UNSCR 1441 and previous
    resolutions.
        In these circumstances, we would undertake a solemn obligation to
    help the Iraqi people build a new Iraq at peace with itself and its
    neighbors. The Iraqi people deserve to be lifted from insecurity and
    tyranny, and freed to determine for themselves the future of their
    country. We envisage a unified Iraq with its territorial integrity
    respected. All the Iraqi people--its rich mix of Sunni and Shiite Arabs,
    Kurds, Turkomen, Assyrians, Chaldeans, and all others--should enjoy
    freedom, prosperity, and equality in a united country. We will support
    the Iraqi people's aspirations for a representative government that
    upholds human rights and the rule of law as cornerstones of democracy.
        We will work to prevent and repair damage by Saddam
    Hussein's regime to the natural resources of
    Iraq and pledge to protect them as a national asset of and for the Iraqi
    people. All Iraqis should share the wealth generated by their national
    economy. We will seek a swift end to international sanctions, and
    support an international reconstruction program to help Iraq achieve
    real prosperity and reintegrate into the global community.
        We will fight terrorism in all its forms. Iraq must never again be a
    haven for terrorists of any kind.
        In achieving this vision, we plan to work in close partnership with
    international institutions, including the United Nations; our Allies and
    partners; and bilateral donors. If conflict occurs, we plan to seek the
    adoption, on an urgent basis, 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 will also propose that the
    Secretary General be given authority, on an interim basis, to ensure
    that the humanitarian needs of the Iraqi people continue to be met
    through the Oil for Food program.
        Any military presence, should it be necessary, will be temporary and
    intended to promote security and elimination of weapons of mass
    destruction; the delivery of humanitarian aid; and the conditions for
    the reconstruction of Iraq. Our commitment to

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    support the people of Iraq will be for the long term.
        We call upon the international community to join with us in helping
    to realize a better future for the Iraqi people.

    Note: An original was not available for verification of the content of
    this joint statement. The Office of the Press Secretary also released a
    Spanish language version of this joint statement.