[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.