    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2005, Book I)]
    [April 6, 2005]
    [Page 568]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on the Election of the Presidency Council of the Iraqi
    Transitional Government
    April 6, 2005

        Iraq's Transitional National Assembly took a momentous step forward
    in Iraq's transition to democracy today, voting by an overwhelming
    majority to elect the Presidency Council of the Iraqi Transitional
    Government.
        I congratulate Iraq's next President, Jalal Talabani, and its next Deputy Presidents, Adil Abd al-
    Mahdi and Ghazi al-Ujayl al-Yawr, on this historic occasion. These
    individuals will be formally sworn in tomorrow and will move quickly to
    name a Prime Minister who will work during the coming days to select a
    Council of Ministers. The new Iraqi Government will then begin its
    important work of writing a new constitution, continuing to train Iraqi
    security forces, delivering basic services, and advancing Iraq's
    transformation from dictatorship to democracy.
        The Iraqi people have shown their commitment to democracy, and we,
    in turn, are committed to Iraq. We look forward to working with this new
    Government, and we congratulate all Iraqis on this historic day.