    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book II)]
    [November 20, 2003]
    [Pages 1590-1591]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Declaration on Iraq by President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Tony
    Blair
    November 20, 2003

        For the first time in decades, the Iraqi people are enjoying the
    taste of freedom. Iraqis are starting to rebuild their country and can
    look to a brighter future. They are free of Saddam Hussein and his vicious regime; they can speak freely;
    practice their religion; and start to come to terms with the nightmare
    of the last 35 years, in which hundreds of thousands of Iraqis were
    murdered by their own government.
        But Iraq is still threatened by followers of the former regime, and
    by outside terrorists who are helping them. The struggle is difficult.
    Yet we shall persevere to ensure that the people of Iraq will prevail,
    with the support of the new and strengthening Iraqi security forces: the
    police, the Iraqi Civil Defense Corps, the Facility Protection Service,
    the border police, and the New Iraqi Army. We salute the courage of
    those Iraqis and the coalition forces engaged in the struggle against
    reactionary elements in Iraq who want to turn back the clock to the dark
    days of Saddam's regime.
        We reaffirm the resolve of our two countries, with many friends and
    allies, to complete the process of bringing freedom, security, and peace
    to Iraq.
        We warmly welcome the Iraqi Governing Council's announcement of a
    timetable for the creation of a sovereign Iraqi Transitional
    Administration by the end of June 2004, and for a process leading to the
    adoption of a permanent constitution and national elections for a new
    Iraqi government by the end of 2005.

    [[Page 1591]]

        This announcement is consistent with our long-stated aim of handing
    over power to Iraqis as quickly as possible. It is right that Iraqis are
    making these decisions and for the first time in generations determining
    their own future. We welcome the Governing Council's commitment to
    ensuring the widest possible participation in the Transitional Assembly
    and constitutional process.
        We reaffirm our long-term commitment to Iraq. The United States and
    United Kingdom stand ready to support the Transitional Administration in
    its task of building a new Iraq and its democratic institutions. Our
    military participation in the multinational force in Iraq will serve the
    Iraqi people until the Iraqis themselves are able to discharge full
    responsibility for their own security. At the same time, we hope that
    international partners will increasingly participate in the
    multinational force.
        Our long-term political, moral, and financial commitment to the
    reconstruction of Iraq was underlined at the Madrid Donors Conference
    last month. Although the Coalition Provisional Authority will come to an
    end once the Transitional Administration is installed, the United States
    and United Kingdom will continue to provide assistance as part of the
    international support effort. In these tasks, we welcome the involvement
    of other nations, regardless of earlier differences; of the United
    Nations and the International Financial Institutions; and of the many
    non-governmental organizations who are able to make an important
    contribution.
        Great challenges remain in Iraq. But the progress we have made this
    year has been enormous. Iraqis no longer live in fear of their own
    government, and Iraq's neighbors no long feel threatened. Our resolve to
    complete the task we set ourselves remains undiminished. Our partnership
    with the Iraqi people is for the long-term.

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