*EPF304 06/16/2004
Congressional Report, June 16: Iraq
(Sovereignty handover key to democratic process, Congress told) (660)

The handover of sovereign authority to the Iraqi interim government June 30 is central to a step-by-step process for achieving freedom and democracy for the Iraqi people, U.S. officials say.

"The transfer of sovereign authority on June 30 will be a major political and psychological milestone," says Peter Rodman, assistant secretary of defense for international affairs. "The Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) will dissolve, and the Iraqi Interim Government will take responsibility for running Iraq's affairs," he noted.

Rodman testified before the House Armed Services Committee June 16 that the new U.S. Embassy in Baghdad will open July 1 to work with the Iraqi interim government.

"This transfer of sovereign authority serves several purposes. It shows that we keep our promises: that we truly came as liberators, not occupiers," Rodman said in prepared testimony. "The end of occupation also provides a crucial incentive for Iraqis to step up and take responsibility for their country."

The transfer of authority also serves to empower moderates and marginalize extremists, he said.

House Armed Services Chairman Duncan Hunter, a California Republican, said the hearing was called to examine the process for the handover of sovereignty and evaluate its impact. He added that the handover will accelerate the momentum toward a fully sovereign and democratic Iraq.

Ambassador Francis Ricciardone, the State Department's coordinator for Iraq transition, testified that the handover is the first step in the process. That process is to be followed by helping establish security throughout Iraq, continuing to rebuild Iraqi infrastructure, encouraging international support, and moving Iraq toward free national elections by January 31, 2005.

"We will quickly move to establish formal diplomatic relations and to build strong and friendly bilateral ties -- two independent, sovereign nations working together toward a common goal of a peaceful and democratic Iraq," Ricciardone said.

The State Department becomes the lead U.S. agency in Iraq after June 30 through its new embassy, which will be among the largest in the world, he said. The U.S. Embassy in Baghdad will employ 900 Americans and 550 Foreign Service Nationals, and include two temporary organizations -- the Iraq Reconstruction Management Office (IRMO) and Program Contracting Office (PCO), he said.

Ricciardone said the new embassy will be temporarily housed in a building currently under renovation within the Green Zone in Baghdad. A new embassy site has been selected and the new building could be constructed and occupied within two years, he said.

He added that its will cost approximately $480 million during the balance of fiscal year 2004, which ends September 30, to meet mission costs.

Lieutenant General Walter Sharp, director of strategic plans and policy for the Joint Staff, told the Armed Services Committee that establishing a safe and secure environment is the single most important element for an improved Iraqi quality of life.

"Multinational forces will remain in Iraq at the invitation of the Iraqi people, and with the authorization of the United Nations after the Iraqi Interim Government assumes its leadership responsibilities," Sharp said. "These forces, and increasingly Iraqi forces, will continue to conduct offensive operations to defeat remaining anti-Iraqi forces and neutralize destabilizing influences in Iraq, in order to create a secure environment in which the Iraqi people can build their own future."

Sharp said Iraqi Prime Minister Ayad al-Allawi's letter to the U.N. Security Council from the interim government formed the basis for the United Nations authorizing the continued presence of the Multinational Force in Iraq. U.N. Security Council Resolution 1546 authorizes the multinational force to take all necessary measures to contribute to the maintenance of security and stability in Iraq.

Full texts of the three officials' prepared remarks may be found on the House Armed Services Committee web site at:

http://armedservices.house.gov/openingstatementsandpressreleases/108thcongress/04-06-16rodman.pdf

http://armedservices.house.gov/openingstatementsandpressreleases/108thcongress/04-06-16ricciardone.pdf

http://armedservices.house.gov/openingstatementsandpressreleases/108thcongress/04-06-16sharp.pdf

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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