L. Paul Bremer
Administrator
Coalition Provisional Administration

Opening Remarks
Press Conference 2 September 2003

Let me express my condolences, those of President Bush and the United States of America, and those of the Coalition to the families of all those innocent men and women killed and injured by the terrorist bomb in Najaf

Along with millions of Iraqis, we especially mourn the death by murder of Grand Ayatollah Mohammed Baqr al-Hakim and present our condolences and sympathy to his family, friends and supporters.

Once again, as twice before in the past month, the terrorists have taken innocent Iraqi lives.

Once again, the terrorists have shown that they will stop at nothing to achieve their aims.

But they shall be stopped.

We shall stop them.

We shall combat them,

and we shall overcome them.

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But even that tragic event could not derail Iraq’s forward movement to democratic government.

Yesterday the Governing Council took another step on the path to Iraq’s sovereignty.

They appointed new ministers, who serve at the pleasure of Council.

· They run the ministries.
· The day-to-day business of government is in their hands.
· They are involved in the final stages of the 2004 budget preparation and will have responsibility for operating their ministries according to those budgets.
· It is our intention to keep responsibility and authority linked.
· Therefore, as the ministers settle into their positions the advisers from the Coalition will not only yield authority, they will thrust authority at the ministers.

With the appointment of a cabinet, Iraq has taken a third important step toward sovereign self-government.

The first step was the formation of the Governing Council two months ago.

Last month, the Governing Council appointed a Preparatory Committee which will determine the means by which Iraqis will, for the first time, write their own constitution.

Now there are Iraqi ministers responsible for the executive functions of Iraq’s government.

The path ahead to full Iraqi sovereignty is clear and visible.

First, a constitutional convention, or some similar mechanism determined by the Preparatory Committee, will write a new, permanent constitution for all Iraqis.

Second, the constitution will be submitted to the Iraqi people for approval in a referendum.

Third, then Iraqis will hold elections which will produce a fully sovereign Iraqi government.

Working with the Governing Council and Cabinet, I pledge the Coalition’s close support and assistance as we move together down this path.

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I welcome your questions.