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For Immediate Release
June 24, 2004

Global Message

A key pillar of President Bush's five-point plan to help Iraq achieve democracy and freedom is to transition authority to a fully sovereign Iraqi government. On June 30th, the Iraqi people will assume full sovereignty.

Iraqis had no voice in their government or their nation's future just 15 months ago. Today, millions of Iraqis are shaping their own destinies by participating in Iraq's political process.

As Iraq moves towards free elections, the interim Iraqi government will govern Iraq through an unprecedented framework of freedom for Iraq that guarantees the basic rights of all Iraqis.

The recent violence -- and attacks on Iraq's critical infrastructure -- underscore that freedom in Iraq is opposed by violent remnants of the former regime and terrorists who seek the failure not only of the interim government, but of all progress toward liberty. There will be more violence as the enemies of freedom become more desperate.

The killers know that Iraq is a central front in the war on terror. The return of tyranny to Iraq would embolden the terrorists, leading to more bombings and more murders of the innocent around the world.

The will of Iraqis and our coalition is firm. We will not be deterred by violence and terror. We will stand together and ensure that the future of Iraq is a future of freedom.