[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 41, Number 13 (Monday, April 4, 2005)]
[Pages 522-523]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks on Freedom and Democracy in Iraq

March 29, 2005

    Thank you all. Thank you. Good morning. Welcome to the White House. 
Please be seated. Senator Warner, it's good to see you, sir. Thank you 
for coming. I appreciate citizens from Iraq who have joined us. I 
appreciate my fellow citizens who have joined us. Thanks for coming.
    Before I talk about Iraq, I do want to say that on behalf of the 
American people, Laura and I offer our condolences to the victims of 
yesterday's earthquake in Indonesia. This earthquake has claimed lives 
and destroyed buildings in a part of Indonesia that is only now 
beginning to recover from the destruction caused by the tsunami 3 months 
ago. Our officials have offered initial assistance and are moving 
quickly to gather information to determine what additional relief is 
needed.
    I appreciate Andrew Natsios of USAID being with us today, and I know 
he and his team are ready to respond, to help. People of Indonesia can 
know as well that they have our prayers and that our Government is ready 
to assist.
    Just a few minutes ago I met with a group of people dedicated to 
building a new Iraq. Most of them were born in Iraq. They come from 
different backgrounds. They practice different religions. They have one 
thing in common: They all voted in the January elections.
    We're also joined today by Iraqi law students visiting the United 
States for an international competition, by members of Iraq's religious 
communities in town to learn about democracy, and by others who helped 
organize the--Iraq's elections held in the United States. I want to 
welcome you all. I want to thank you for your strong belief in democracy 
and freedom. It's a belief that with their vote, the Iraqi people 
signalled to the world that they intend to claim their liberty and build 
a future of freedom for their country. And it was a powerful signal.
    I commend the more than 8 million Iraqis who defied the car bombers 
and assassins to vote that day. I appreciate the determination of the 
Iraqi electoral workers who withstood threats and intimidation to make a 
transparent election possible. I salute the courageous Iraqi security 
forces who risked their lives to protect voters.
    By electing 275 men and women to the Transitional National Assembly, 
the Iraqi people took another bold step toward self-government. Today 
Iraqis took another step on the road to a free society when the Assembly 
held its second meeting. We expect a new Government will be chosen soon 
and that the Assembly will vote to confirm it. We look forward to 
working with the Government that emerges from this process. We're 
confident that this new Government will be inclusive, will respect human 
rights, and will uphold fundamental freedoms for all Iraqis.
    We have seen many encouraging signs in Iraq. The world has watched 
Iraqi women vote in enormous numbers. The world has seen more than 80 
women take their seats as elected representatives in the new Assembly. 
We've also seen the beginnings of a new national dialog, as leaders who 
did well in the last election have reached out to Sunnis who did not 
participate.
    In a democracy, the Government must uphold the will of the majority 
while respecting the rights of minorities. And Iraq's new leaders are 
determined that the Government of a free Iraq will be representative of 
their country's diverse population. The new Transitional National 
Assembly includes people and parties with differing visions for the 
future of their country. In a democratic Iraq, these differences will be 
resolved through

[[Page 523]]

debate and persuasion instead of force and intimidation.
    In forming their new Government, the Iraqis have shown that the 
spirit of compromise has survived more than three decades of 
dictatorship. They will need that spirit in the weeks and months ahead 
as they continue the hard work of building their democracy. After 
choosing the leaders of their new Government, the next step will be the 
drafting of a new constitution for a free and democratic Iraq. In 
October, that document is scheduled to be put before the Iraqi people in 
a national referendum. Once the new constitution is approved, Iraqis 
will return to the polls to elect a permanent constitutional Government.
    This democracy will need defending. And Iraqi security forces are 
taking on greater responsibility in the fight against the insurgents and 
terrorists. Today, more than 145,000 Iraqis have been trained and are 
serving courageously across Iraq. In recent weeks, they've taken the 
lead in offensive operations in places like Baghdad and Samara and 
Mosul. We will continue to train Iraqis so they can take responsibility 
for the security of their country, and then our forces will come home 
with the honor they've earned.
    Iraqis are taking big steps on a long journey of freedom. A free 
society requires more than free elections; it also requires free 
institutions, a vibrant civil society, rule of law, anticorruption, and 
the habits of liberty built over generations. By claiming their own 
freedom, the Iraqis are transforming the region, and they're doing it by 
example and inspiration rather than by conquest and domination. The free 
people of Iraq are now doing what Saddam Hussein never could--making 
Iraq a positive example for the entire Middle East.
    Today, people in a long-troubled part of the world are standing up 
for their freedom. In the last few months, we've witnessed successful 
elections in Afghanistan, Iraq, and the Palestinian Territories; 
peaceful demonstrations on the streets of Beirut; and steps toward 
democratic reform in places like Egypt and Saudi Arabia. The trend is 
clear: Freedom is on the march. Freedom is the birthright and deep 
desire of every human soul, and spreading freedom's blessings is the 
calling of our time. And when freedom and democracy take root in the 
Middle East, America and the world will be safer and more peaceful.
    I want to thank you all for coming. We ask for God's blessings on 
the brave souls of Iraq, and God continue to bless the American people. 
Thank you.

Note: The President spoke at 11:25 a.m. in the Rose Garden at the White 
House. In his remarks, he referred to former President Saddam Hussein of 
Iraq. The Office of the Press Secretary also released a Spanish language 
transcript of these remarks.