COALITION PROVISIONAL AUTHORITY ORDER NUMBER 32
LEGAL DEPARTMENT OF THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE
Pursuant to my authority as Administrator of the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA),
and the laws and usages of war, and consistent with relevant U.N. Security Council
resolutions, including Resolution 1483 (2003),
Recognizing that international litigation, claims and arbitrations involving
Government of Iraq and its agencies, instrumentalities and companies continue;
the
Noting that these case~; may result in significant adverse judgments, decisions or awards
draining the resources of the people of Iraq, or in judgments or awards vindicating their
claims or defenses;
Recalling that the Legal Department of the Office of the Council of Ministers managed
these cases in the former regime;
Acknowledging that the Legal Department of the Office of the Council of Ministers can
continue this task with the appropriate support from the Ministry of Justice;
I hereby promulgate the following:
Section 1
Purpose
This Order transfers the entity responsible for management of international litigation,
claims and arbitrations involving the Government of Iraq and its governmental
agencies, instrumentalities and companies from the previous regime's Office of the
Council of Ministers to the Ministry of Justice. This action is necessary to, among
other things, preserve rights and respond to judicial actions in foreign courts,
international arbitrations, claims and other proceedings.
Section 2
Transfer of Responsibility
1) The Legal Department of the Office of the Council of Ministers, its personnel and all
of its authorities and responsibilities shall be transferred to the Ministry of Justice. It
shall be renamed the Legal Department of the Ministry of Justice and shall be headed
by a Director General. Upon completion of the transfer, the Legal Department will
begin the task of resuming the management of the international litigation, claims and
arbitrations described in this Order.
CP A/ORD/4 September 2003/32

2) The Ministry of Justice shall accept the Legal Department's current personnel and
provide them with salaries and benefits commensurate with their positions and
experience at the Office of the Council of Ministers, including any such salaries and
benefits due since June 30, 2003.
3) The Legal Departn.1ent, acting in coordination with the CPA, shall be responsible for
managing international litigation, claims, and arbitrations, involving the Government
of Iraq and its governmental agencies, instrumentalities and companies. The Minister
of Justice may assign additional responsibilities to the Legal Department, provided
that such responsibilities do not disrupt its principal task set forth herein.
Section 3
Entry into Force
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