A rchive Date
[ 22-02-2004 ]
Category
[ International Relations ]
sub-Categoy
[ U.S ]
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[http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A54958-2004Feb19_2.html
Bremer Stands By June 30
Hundreds of local and provincial councils have been formed. Student councils, women's groups, parent-teachers associations have been created in thousands of places. Professional organizations - physicians and lawyers and engineers - have come into being all over the country. These are the essential elements of civil society.
Neither security nor government can be sustained without money and without economic activity, so let me finish with a few words about the economy.
A moribund economy sooner or later leads to a moribund and insecure society. Iraq's once moribund economy is coming to life. As all of you know when you drive around, consumer goods are widely available. The Iraqi Central Bank, which was wholly subservient, has been independent since September.
The currency exchange was one of the most successful in history under extremely daunting circumstances. We put 4.6 trillion new Iraqi dinars in place, and finished on time and on budget.
Iraq now enjoys observer status at the World Trade Organization.
The restoration and expansion of electrical services continues. Last week, electrical production hit its highest point since the war on a seven-day average of 4,260 megawatts. Yesterday we generated 98,917 megawatt hours of power: a record since liberation. We continue to project 6,000 megawatts of peak power by July 1st.
Telephone service continues to expand, with more than 95 percent of service outside of Baghdad around the country and substantial progress within Baghdad. Hospitals, schools, food supplies, water resources are all at or above prewar levels. It's not good enough yet, but progress has been made.
All of this economic activity will be further boosted by the $10.2 billion of reconstruction contracts funded from the supplemental budget that we expect to let by July 1st. Progress in each of these areas - security, governance, economics - reinforces each of the others. Not every piece will move just when we thought and there will be bumps on the road, but we have made great progress to date.
Thank you. I'll take your questions.
QUESTION (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): What is the American strategy, the case of winning or losing by President Bush toward Iraq? Will the American strategy change if President George Bush loses the election?
BREMER: I try to make it a habit not to answer hypothetical questions, but in this case I don't expect President Bush to lose the election, nor do I expect there to be any change in American policy.
The American people understand the importance of what we have done here: liberating 25 million people from a vicious tyranny, fighting the global war on terrorism and bringing democracy and pluralism to this country. We will continue on that until we succeed.
QUESTION (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): Will there be a second source for legislation for the Iraqi new law in addition to the Islamic sharia, the Islamic law?
BREMER: It's important to go back to the principles of the November 15th agreement, in which the governing council committed itself to a transitional law which will respect fundamental rights, as I said in my opening statement, including the fundamental right to freedom of religion, while recognizing the Islamic nature of Iraqi society.
I don't want to predict at this point how precisely those principles will be recognized in the transitional law, because the governing council is just now considering the draft of that. But I'm assuming that the governing council will stick with what it said and recognize those freedoms and the equality of all Iraqis irrespective, as I said in my statement, of religion, ethnicity or gender.
QUESTION (THROUGH TRANSLATOR): Mr. Bremer, the secretary general of the United Nations, according to what is mentioned in one of the Japanese newspapers papers in a meeting with him, is that there is no possibility to conduct elections during the set time for the transfer of sovereignty to the Iraqis. What is the alternative, in your opinion, if it is difficult to conduct elections?
BREMER: As I understand the process, the secretary general intends to issue his views on this question in the next 24 hours and I would prefer to wait until I hear what he has to say.
There are, as I have pointed out before, a number of ways in which a transitional government could be selected if it was not possible to hold elections. It is a very complicated task to do it if you don't do it with elections.
With the governing council, we put forward a proposal to do it by means of caucuses. But there are literally dozens of ways to carry out this very complicated task. There are caucuses that cascade downwards, upward-cascading caucuses. Various other kinds of selections, partial elections.
On all of these matters we are going to wait until we hear what the secretary general has to say and what Mr. Brahimi has to say. But I just invite your attention to how complicated it is.
QUESTION: If we could get your view on Al Qaida, we've seen a number of reports recently giving conflicting accounts as to whether it's here, one in Baquba saying they've detained seven members of the group linked to it. And I wonder if you have anything on a group that's recently surfaced, called Jaish Ansar al-Sunna?
BREMER: On the narrow question of the events in Baquba, my understanding is that at the moment we do not consider the people who were rounded up to be Al Qaida. They appear to be Iraqi extremists. But I will wait until we finish the interrogation of them to give you a final view on it.
However, it is clear that we have major elements of terrorist groups, including Al Qaida. They have been here basically all along. Ansar al-Islam is a group to whom Zarqawi is connected, as he is also connected to Al Qaida. Sometimes it's hard to make an actual distinction.
But what we do know is that we are on the forefront of the war against terrorism, a fact which is recognized by Zarqawi in his letter. He knows that they have to try to beat us and the Iraqis here. And that is their strategy.
Jaish Ansar al-Sunna appears to be a successor organization to Ansar al-Islam or a subset of it. I've been working against terrorist groups for more than 20 years now, and it's sometimes hard to know exactly where the boundaries of these groups are.
We do know we have a serious problem. We know these terrorists are now targeting Iraqis and killing many, many more Iraqis than they are killing coalition forces. I think we can be proud of the resilience of the Iraqi security forces against these terrible threats.
QUESTION: Your Excellency, Mr. Ambassador, you have (inaudible). What you don't understand what you mean, you said in your statements in Karbala that you do not want to have the Islamic religion as the main source of writing the constitution. What do you mean by that?
You said also that the agreement between you and the G.C. regarding the - on the 15th of Tishri regarding the constitution and the establishment of the government
Also, with regard to the transition of law, there are some sources gave us a draft of this law that does not refer to Islam in a principal way, does not refer to federalism in a principal way. Do you expect that this law will create a problem? Or would it be a stumbling block or a hamper to transfer of authority and sovereignty to the Iraqis?
BREMER: I don't see much point in getting drawn into a discussion of the various drafts. There have been lots of drafts around.
I think it's better to talk about the principles. And the principles are laid out on November 15th.
And the principles are that the transitional law should recognize the Islamic character with the majority of the Iraqi people, and that there should be freedom of religion, freedom of religious practices, equality before the law for all individuals.
Let's wait and see how this particular document is brought out.
I have said repeatedly over the months that we also believe that a federal structure is the appropriate structure for Iraq; and that response to request from many Iraqis for the benefits of federalism which are providing a clear way to devolve power from the center out to places closer to the people. And we think that's an important thing to happen here after having so many years where all power was held by one man.
I expect that the transitional law will address both the question of Islam and federalism. And when the time comes, I'll have comments on it.
QUESTION: Just to pick up on that point, I just wanted to be clear about this. Just a couple of days ago, you appeared to indicate quite clearly that, in your view, it would not be acceptable for Islamic sharia law to be the basis of Iraq's transitional law. And my blunt question to you is: Truly what business is it of yours to define Iraq's future laws when it's a sovereign nation?
BREMER: We are in the process of discussing this and many, many other issues about what should be in the transitional law over the period ahead.
We are basing that on the principles that were agreed upon between the governing council and us on November 15th. And we intend to reach agreement with them on schedule by next week on this and many other aspects, federalism among others.
We have an obligation as the sovereign power to do our best to ensure that an appropriate, democratic structure is put in place here while we are here so that we can deliver to the Iraqis what they want, which is a democratic, unified, stable country at peace with itself; a consistent message we've had for the last 10 months.
QUESTION: Mr. Bremer, is it possible for you to explain to us the reason for releasing Zadu Hamwadi (ph) from jail even though we know that the G.C. was not consulted in this matter? Also, the Iraqi street rejects the releasing of any person from the previous regime. I would like you to clarify the subject to us.
BREMER: We conduct our activities in relation to people we detain in accordance with our obligations under international law, in this particular case the fourth Geneva Convention.
BREMER: I'm not familiar with all the details of the case of Mr. Hamwadi (ph), but I understand that he was questioned, and it was determined that he no longer posed a security threat to the coalition. And, in accordance with our obligations under the Geneva Convention, he was released.
If the Iraqi people and the Iraqi government has reason to believe that he committed crimes, he can be arrested and brought before the special tribunal, if that's what the Iraqi people want to do, and brought to justice.
And that is the case of all of the people who are accused of crimes, whether they are among the highest-value detainees, the top 55, or others. If there are reasons to believe they've committed crimes, they can be brought to justice, and we will help in that process as we go forward.
QUESTION: There was a list that was issued with names of agents and advisers for the ministries of the Iraqi state. Has it been confirmed or are there any changes, eliminating some names or adding new names?
BREMER: I'm not sure which list you're talking about. If you're talking about the nominations for the deputy ministers that were made to me by the governing council, I'm in the process of examining that list, and I'm having discussions with ministers about the proposals for their deputies, and I expect that when that process is over I will make appointments of the deputy ministers. But that process is just now getting under way.
QUESTION: What are your views today on the governing council and what kind of a job they're doing? Do you think that they're representative of the people and they've established some credibility with the Iraqi people?
BREMER: The governing council is working well. Right now they are focusing very heavily on the drafting of this temporary law of administration, which is an extremely important document for the transitional period that Iraq is entering.
They have, at least according to the polls - and it's hard to know about polls in a society that is still only getting itself organized - but the polls suggest that they've made quite a lot of progress in achieving credibility.
I think they have worked heard. They have appointed an extremely able cabinet. By agreeing to the November 15th agreement, they have set out over the next year and a half a path that takes Iraq through a constitutional convention, the writing of a constitution, the first time in Iraqi history, and elections for a democratic parliament by the end of 2005.
BREMER: And I think those are accomplishments of which they can be rightly proud.
QUESTION: Do you think that they would be capable of continuing on and as an interim government in some fashion?
BREMER: Well, I said earlier, there are dozens of ideas around. And I think it's appropriate now that we await the independent view of the United Nations on the question of, first of all, are elections possible by June and, secondly, if not, what is the best way to approach a transitional government? And I think it's appropriate that we allow the United Nations to consider that question, come back with their recommendations.
QUESTION: Could I ask you to be a little bit more specific on the economy, and compare about a year ago to today and also maybe compare the north, the Kurdish area, to the economy around the rest of the country?
BREMER: Well, if you mean a year ago, you mean, say, in April? We weren't here...
QUESTION: Previous to you.
BREMER: ... in February.
This economy suffered enormously over the last 35 years from spectacular underinvestment in everything, from infrastructure to refineries to electricity to oil refineries, to everything you can name. We were not going to ever fix it in the course of 10 months. It's going to take a long time.
We've made, I think, every substantial progress. We have all essential services back at or above prewar levels.
And as I said in my statement, that's not good enough, because prewar levels were not good enough. But we have a plan, through the spending of our almost $19 billion over the next couple of years, to address the most urgent of these remaining essential service problems and we will do that.
The economy is certainly better than it was when we got here in April and May. There is a great deal of street-level activity. Hundreds of thousands of cars have been imported. The banks are open. Hospitals are working. Business is coming back. State-owned enterprises are getting back on-line, as they get their workers back to work and as they get electricity and working capital.
There are problems still and it's a sick economy that we tried to fix and we're in the process of effecting the cure, but it will take time.
QUESTION: And the second part?
BREMER: I'm sorry, the...
QUESTION: The northern Tikrit area, compared to the rest of the country?
BREMER: I thought you said the Kurdish area?
QUESTION: I mean, the Kurdish area.
BREMER: Well, the Kurdish area, of course, has had 12 years of relative independence, under the protection of the American and British forces. And when you travel there, you see what the future of Iraq can look like. It's a very prosperous area. There are a lot of people moving around. There is more self assurance against terrorism, although they've had very bad terrorism in Irbil just two weeks ago. But you can get a sense of how well the Iraqi people can do, given the opportunity.
And I think that is the vision forward for Iraq. Iraq will succeed economically.
QUESTION: I want to ask you about some of your views on the issue of Kurdish autonomy, specifically with regard to how that's articulated in the transitional law. And three specific issues, Ambassador: your views on the future of the Peshmerga and what should happen with them; the second issue, the issue of the division of natural resource revenue and what guarantees do you feel the Kurds should receive in that; and the third, the issue of the resolution of disputed territories and your position on how that issue should be dealt with in the basic law.
BREMER: On the question of the Peshmerga, let me address it as a somewhat broader question relating to militia and armed forces that are not under the control of the central government.
We have made clear in discussions with the Kurdish leaders and other political leaders that we believe there's no place in an independent, stable Iraq for armed forces that are not under the control of the command structure of the central government. Kurdish leaders have understood and agreed with that. And I think we all recognize that this is a difficult issue which will take some time to work out, which is the honorable reintegration of these kinds of forces back into Iraqi society. And I think that is the direction we will go with the help of our Kurdish friends.
On the question of natural resources and disputed territories, I expect both of these issues will be addressed in the transitional law. At this point, I think it's too early to say exactly what will be said.
But obviously in a federal system, when you deal with natural resources, there has to be some understanding about the ownership of the resources and the allocation of revenues that are generated by those resources. And I think the transition of administrative law will have to address that in some fashion.
BREMER: It is yet not - I think not yet decided.
On the other hand, on disputed territories, our position is very clear. And it is a position that has very broad support among Iraqis I've spoken to on and off the governing council.
And that position is that disputed territories, boundaries, these issues are not issues that should be decided until there is an elected Iraqi government to decide them, which means they should be addressed by the constituent assembly that will be elected about a year from now when it starts to write the constitution. That is the appropriate forum to decide those issues, not the transitional law itself.
QUESTION: There are some rumors about the disappearance of Saddam Hussein from his prison. Is there any truth to these rumors? And is there any secure place for Saddam Hussein?
BREMER: There are no truth to those rumors. He's still under our care.
QUESTION: Ambassador Bremer, what have you reached with regard to those who were working for the minister of communications, knowing that Saddam Hussein is a prisoner of war? But are the workers of the former ministry criminals of war? Sahof (ph) is in the Emirates receiving wages, but 5,200 families need a resolution to their problem.
BREMER: I take very seriously the problem. You and I have discussed it before. We are working on it. And I am very sympathetic to the problems of those people and their families, and we are working on a solution. And when I have a solution, I will give it to you, I promise.
QUESTION: Mr. Ambassador, you have conferred with more than once today that we must have sources for legislation in addition to Islam from other religions.
QUESTION: And you said that this was stated in the 15th of November agreement that the G.C. have solved that. Do you believe that the members of the G.C. signed this agreement, the agreement of 15th of Tishri, without understanding? Do you believe the 15th of September agreement did not take its official time for discussion at the G.C., so that they can settle its final formula and that we have did it very fast?
BREMER: I just want to be clear. I did not say that I thought that the transitional law should draw on other religions for the source of its law. That's not what I said.
It's not what the November 15th agreement said either. It said that the law should recognize that Islam is the religion of the majority of the Iraqi people, but that there should be freedom of religion and religious practices for all Iraqis, irrespective of their religion.
I believe that the members of the governing council fully understood what that said and I believe the members of the governing council support those principles and that we will see those principles reflected in the transitional law when it's finished up here in about a week.
QUESTION: How much longer after the 30th of June do you foresee a coalition or a U.S. presence in Iraq and what circumstances will warrant a complete withdrawal?
BREMER: Well, first of all, I think people tend to confuse the 30th of June and the departure of the coalition authority, which I represent with, somehow, the end of American presence in Iraq. And this, of course, not true.
First of all, the coalition authority will become the world's largest embassy, the largest embassy America has and I suppose therefore the largest embassy any country has anywhere in the world.
There will be thousands of American government officials from all of our major departments still working here, working with the Iraqi people on reconstruction and working with them on their political developments.
And there will be hundreds of thousand - 100,000 American troops and tens of thousands of coalition forces still here, until such time as the Iraqi security forces are able to assure their own security, which will not be as early as July.
So the major change that happens on June 30th is that the coalition authority passes sovereignty back to the Iraqi government. The occupation ends and coalition forces are no longer occupying forces; they are in partnership with the Iraqi people to protect Iraqi security.
The president has said, repeatedly, that we are not going to leave Iraq until we finish the job and the job is very clearly defined as having a democratic, stable Iraq at peace with itself and with its neighbors. So America will still be here, many of the coalition countries - I hope all of them - will still be here, perhaps more. We are certainly not going to abandon Iraq.
QUESTION: There is a separate consensus between the members of council for preference to be the governing authority or governing body during this transitional period.
QUESTION: How do you view this situation?
BREMER: Well, it's not too surprising that that's their preference. But the question is, what is going to work? And what is going to be recommended by the United Nations as their advice to the governing council and to us?
And as I said earlier, I would prefer not to speculate on some of the many dozens of ideas that are out there until we hear from the United National.
We're looking forward to that. We think the U.N. has an important role to play here as an independent player, and we are hoping that they will play an active role in the months ahead.
But I don't want to speculate on exactly how that's going to look until we actually hear from them.
QUESTION: Ambassador Bremer, do you think that a United Nations Security Council resolution would be required in order to extend the role of the United Nations or expand that role, as you described?
BREMER: The role of the United Nations?
QUESTION: Yes.
BREMER: You know, I'm not a U.N. expert, so I would prefer that that question be answered by people who follow the U.N. more closely.
I think the principled point is that I think we have said all along that we believe the U.N. has a vital role to play in the reconstruction of Iraq.
I am very pleased that they have come back. I have been encouraging them to come back since August. And we are going to work as closely as we can with the secretary general and his colleagues to ensure that they have the security they need to carry out the independent role that has been given them.
Whether they need more U.N. resolutions is a question really for the lawyers in New York and not for me.
Thank you very much.
 World Fact Book (CIA)]
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