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| June 28, 2004 |
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| Political Authority Transferred to Iraq; CPA Dissolved |
WASHINGTON - June 28, 2004.
Political authority has been transferred from the Coalition Provisional Authority to the interim Iraqi government two days ahead of schedule.
The CPA was dissolved by CPA Administrator, Ambassador L. Paul Bremer III, in a short ceremony in Baghdad: “As recognized in U.N. Security Council Resolution 1546, the Coalition Provisional Authority will cease to exist on June 28, at which point the occupation will end and the Iraqi interim government will assume and exercise full sovereign authority on behalf of the Iraqi people. I welcome Iraq’s steps to take its rightful place of equality and honor among the free nations of the world,” Bremer said.
At the ceremony, President Ghazi Yawar hailed "an historic day, a happy day, a day that all Iraqis have been looking forward to.” President Bush hailed the handover as "a day of great hope for Iraqis" and vowed not to abandon Iraq.
Bremer expressed optimism for a bright future for the Iraqi people and assured Iraqi leaders that the United States would be there to aid them in this endeavor. “We will still be there to help you. The multinational forces will still be here to help with security until the Iraqi forces are able on their own to deal with security. The American government will be here in the form of a very large American embassy, which will help work with Iraqis to oversee the reconstruction projects which are now beginning already to make an impact on the Iraqi economy,” he said.
Bremer also indicated that close to $19 billion will be spent in the next year-and- a -half by the U.S. to finance rebuilding of the old infrastructure in Iraq, such as: electricity, roads, irrigation and sewage systems. Other projects are underway in the reconstruction of Iraq’s oil infrastructure, improving security, and building Iraq’s security forces.
John Proctor, a spokesman for the CPA’s Project Management Office, stated that 136 projects are currently underway and that $5.3 billion in infrastructure funding has started to trickle to contractors. "In the course of the next few weeks, you're going to see a rapid increase in employment and ground breaking on new projects." Proctor said.
Much progress has already been made in the rebuilding of schools, hospitals, and clinics. The CPA has spent $1 billion renovating hospitals, five million children have returned to school in Iraq, and public employees in these sectors are enjoying higher wages. Street markets and trade are also booming. Many more opportunities to aide in the development of the infrastructure exist and are welcome.
Iraqi leaders are encouraging and appreciative in their remarks towards forces working toward rebuilding Iraq: "We would like to thank the coalition, the governments of the coalition, and the people of the coalition countries who have helped Iraq to stabilize its security and to rebuild Iraq,” the Prime Minister, Iyad Allawi, said.
Source: Equity International |
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