Iraqis Should Use ‘Historic Opportunity’ to Vote, President Bush Says
In an interview with Al Arabiya Television January 26, Bush said that sovereignty had been transferred back to Iraqis not very long ago, in June 2004. "A couple of years ago, people would have been puzzled by someone saying that the Iraqis will be given a chance to vote. And now they are," he said.
The president welcomed statements by Iraqi Shi'a leaders that called for the new Iraqi government to be inclusive of all communities, including minorities, in the country.
"[I]n order for Iraq to achieve its ultimate objective, which is a stable, free society, that everybody ought to be able to participate in the writing of the constitution, ... there needs to be respect for minority rights," he said.
The president expressed his appreciation for Iraqis who have shown courage by promoting democracy. The terrorists have no vision for the future of Iraq, he said, "unlike the people who will be elected, who will be listening to the voices of the Iraqis."
Bush warned neighboring Iran against trying to "unduly influence" the Iraqi elections through financial or other means, but said he was confident that the Iraqi people would "vote and elect people that will represent their views, [and] not the views of a foreign government."
"I'm confident that Iraqi nationalism and Iraqi pride and the history of Iraq and traditions of Iraq will be the main focus of the new government, and reflect the new government," he said.
He also said his administration and the Iraqi government have sent messages to the Syrian government that it "should not be meddling" in the country, and should "do everything they can to prevent money, arms, [and] people from going from Syria into Iraq" to destabilize it. "[W]e expect the government to act on our request," Bush said.
The president said 120,000 members of Iraqi security forces have been trained so far, but said the figure "doesn't necessarily mean they're ready."
"There's a difference between quantity and quality," he said, adding the United States would focus over the next year on quality.
"[I]t's important for the Iraqi citizens to know that their own citizens are out defending their freedom," he said, and when the Iraqi government makes a security decision, there should be "decisive and quick movement" on the part of its forces.
Turning to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the president said the election of Abu Mazen as the new president of the Palestinian Authority will "help accelerate" the road map for a two-state solution.
"I'm very optimistic about the establishment of a Palestinian state," he said. He added that most Israelis understand that "in the long-term their survival depends upon a democratic state coexisting peacefully with Israel."
Asked if there could be a Palestinian state by 2009, Bush said he was reluctant to set a timetable, but said the United States and others in the international community are willing to "help along those lines."
"It is conceivable it could happen before then if there is that firm commitment. And it looks like there is a firm commitment," he said.
If the Palestinians "continue to follow a path toward peaceful relations and the development of a free state, where people can express their opinions and have dissent and an open press, there's a very good chance the state will happen," Bush said.
In the shorter term, the president said his new Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice is scheduled to be in London for a March conference to help the Palestinians build institutions "to show our commitment to the Palestinian cause," and said the new Palestinian Authority president is invited to visit the United States.
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