Moving toward free national elections
"The fifth, and most important step, is free national elections, to be held no later than next January.
"A United Nations team headed by Carina Perelli is now in Iraq helping form an independent election commission that will oversee an orderly accurate national election. In that election, the Iraqi people will choose a transitional national assembly, the first freely- elected, truly representative national governing body in Iraq's history.
"This assembly will serve as Iraq's legislature and it will choose a transitional government with executive powers. The transitional national assembly will also draft a new constitution, which will be presented to the Iraqi people in a referendum scheduled for the fall of 2005. Under this new constitution, Iraq will elect a permanent government by the end of next year.
"In this time of war and liberation and rebuilding, American soldiers and civilians on the ground have come to know and respect the citizens of Iraq. They're a proud people who hold strong and diverse opinions.
"Yet Iraqis are united in a broad and deep conviction. They're determined never again to live at the mercy of a dictator.
"And they believe that a national election will put that dark time behind them.
"A representative government that protects basic rights, elected by Iraqis, is the best defense against the return of tyranny. And that election is coming."
Completing the transition >>
