Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am for your invitation to speak today. As an ordinary resident this country, I was a admirer of this institute. It a great honour to come here today and to address as Prime Minister of Iraq.

can be few here today remember the last time an leader visited the United Kingdom, alone attended a forum such this. Saddam Hussein was not for his willingness to face questions from an honest audience.

Saddam never left Iraq, because was too frightened that his would be compromised in his . He ruled for himself and himself. His only goal was . And he and his cronies – behind bars – held their power through tyranny, through , through torture and through repression.

, Iraq’s new government is working the Iraqi people, not for . Our goal is to build , rule-of-law, democracy and human rights. we are mindful of where legitimacy lies: we both reflect represent the full diversity of ’s citizens.

Above all, we are of the most important task to us: to prepare Iraq full, free and fair elections, which every citizen will have equal say. We will have elections in Iraq on time, year – because that is the vast majority of Iraqis . Those elections will mark the of what millions of Iraqis of over many long years repression. What people like me for over many long years opposition. What countries like yours for over many long years diplomacy; And eventually – and – went to war for:

democratic Iraqi government which threatens its people nor the world. time, I believe Iraq will both a model and a in the Middle East. At moment, those days seem rather off. It is all too to focus on the violence committed by the minority, and the new freedoms being enjoyed the majority. Indeed, for too Iraqis, and for some foreigners , that violence is all too at the moment. For many now in Iraq, the taste freedom and opportunity is being by the fear of violence. am determined to change that.

know that the decision to Saddam was a difficult and issue here in Britain. And understand how the current difficulties Iraq have added to the , leading many now to question Britain and other countries were to go to war. Let assure you that Saddam and regime were a real threat the region and to the . Some have said that Saddam really just an Iraqi problem,. really threatens Iraqis and Iraq . Try telling that to a familes who lost loved ones the 1990 invasion, that or Iranian family who lost their in the ten year Iran-Iraq .
As I worked in exile remove Saddam, I did so I knew just how much he had wrought on his . I knew of the wars had already started, and the of mass destruction he had against his neighbours and against own people. And I knew his determination to rearm to again.

But when I returned Iraq after liberation, I was shocked to see for myself how much damage Saddam had done in his thirty years power. Today, we are witnessing too vividly the true extent the damage which Saddam inflicted our society.
Ladies and Gentlemen, current difficulties also underline what really at stake in Iraq . The conflict in Iraq is freedom and democracy in a troubled region: a region which – hardly need to tell audience – is of huge importance to the world.

We cannot afford to lose this . Nor can you, nor indeed other people who cherish our values. Foreign terrorists like Zarqawi others have chosen to make their battleground for they understand all too clearly. They have common cause with members of former regime. They try to themselves as resisting occupation, using they know will resonate with in the Middle East.

Sadly, have managed to dupe even outside Iraq who should know , and whose ambivalence only fuels hopes of terrorists. Despite this alliance between members of the regime, and foreign terrorists, despite emotive and politically-charged language they , and despite the barbaric nature their acts, designed to break will, we are making serious in defeating these extremists, and that democracy wins out in .

And we must continue to firm together as we face challenges over the coming months. kidnap of Kenneth Bigley by is one of those challenges. videos his captors have released not only their brutality, but their ruthlessness and their wile. is repugnant to take an man such as Kenneth Bigley to use him as a pawn in this way. The and pain inflicted on his and friends are indescribable. My goes out to them, and prayers are with them and Kenneth.

But I must say it has saddened me to how the media has reacted this issue. Let us not that this sort of terrorism entirely on publicity. We therefore to think long and hard the way this kidnapping has covered by the media. A sober voices have questioned whether media should itself be feeding crisis on which it is and asking whether they have behaved responsibly.

Can we justify videos of hostages or groups armed and hooded men? Is not exactly the publicity that terrorists seek? Should we play game? We should all be if, by doing this, we only make it harder to the cases we deal with , but invite more cases for .

Ladies and gentlemen, as I earlier, the key task of interim government in Iraq is prepare the country for elections. elections will cement the momentous brought by the coalition’s liberation my country. And they will a huge blow to the and the terrorists. As we for those elections, I will to isolate the hard-core from disaffected. I am reaching out those groups in Iraq who find themselves outside the political at the moment, or who chosen themselves to remain outside process.

In the new Iraq, want every community, every group, minority to feel part of process, and to hear its in the process. My government’s – unlike that of the – is a positive and on.

Through dialogue and through offer of amnesty, I am that many of those sitting the fence at the moment, turn their backs on violence the elections.
I am also to start the trial of and other senior regime figures soon as possible, to accelerate process of healing and reconciliation. is why I asked the Nations last week to help the Iraqi Special Tribunal.

Sadly, successful these efforts are, there remain a rump of criminals of remnants of the old . These we will have to militarily. When it comes to task, more and more, I Iraqi forces to take the rather than the Multi-National forces. have asked both Prime Minister and President Bush to help accelerate the training of Iraqi forces. I welcome NATO’s offer help also. Of course, all – myself included – would to see our own forces over all responsibility for security Iraq as soon as possible. will do more than anything to isolate the terrorists from Iraqi people, as they continue peddle the language of occupation.

course, as Iraqis have seen police and army officers being targeted by terrorist attacks, it all too clear to most them who is on whose .

I am of course grateful the leaders of the Multi-National , they have promised that they stay in Iraq for as as they are needed. This a brave and a generous . Calls for early withdrawal are to the ears of the and the insurgents. But as have said, I look forward the Multi-National Forces playing an supportive role, with the Iraqi taking on more and more over the coming weeks and .

Already in Najaf and in , the new Iraqi military and have performed very well. As tackle the insurgents in the problem areas, the Iraqi security will grow further in size, and experience.

Ladies and Gentlemen, week at the United Nations, spoke of the need for world to put past differences us. Many nations opposed the . And many people in this took a similar view.

But is only one side to on today: and that is work with us in building , freedom and democracy in Iraq. the General Assembly, I called those nations who stood on side during the war to us their strong support now. Iraq needs the support of international community in the challenges faces. And I asked the -General what more we could do facilitate the deployment of UN in Iraq. Across the board – elections, to reconstruction, to Special Tribunal, the United Nation’s and experience will be vital success in Iraq.

Which sadly that the United Nations will a target of the terrorists, it was last year, when world lost a great statesman the figure of Sergio di . So I discussed with Kofi the importance of encouraging other contributing to the United Nations force, so that UN personnel operate safely and without fear.

other big challenge we face the economy. It is hard overstate what 35 years of mismanagement did to Iraq’s economy, infrastructure and its institutions.

Saddam Iraq with billions of dollars debts to finance his wars his tyranny and mania. Most have recognized that Iraqis have paid a high enough price Saddam’s mistakes. And most have recognized that without a generous , Iraq will not be able finance its future, nor even short-term challenges such as building security forces. Without those, it hard to see how we terrorism. I am therefore looking to a generous settlement in Paris Club.

And I am looking forward to the donors’ in Tokyo next month. I that this will produce a restatement of support for rebuilding ’s infrastructure and basic services. Iraq not an easy place for agencies to work at the . But those who are there doing excellent work. And I that others who have pledged will bring forward the implementation . Iraqis need and deserve to the benefit of their new-found and democracy.

In conclusion, let say this. We face an struggle in Iraq. The next months, perhaps more than any , will shape the future of country for years to come. international community needs to put arguments of the past behind , and unite behind the common which we all want to . We must deliver on our to bring economic regeneration and freedoms, culminating in successful elections year. And we must continue isolate the insurgents and the , and develop Iraqi’s own capacity build security.

In short, Iraq the support of our neighbours of the whole international community achieve our aims and realise ambitions of the Iraqi people suffered for so many years Saddam’s tyranny.
And of course, is not just Iraqis who benefit. The Middle East and wider world will benefit hugely stability and prosperity in Iraq. will prove that the values democracy and freedom are indeed , and not reserved only for nations.

Anything less than success not worth contemplating.

Thank you.