Posted on 06/14/2004 5:48:32 PM PDT by RWR8189
| NOTE: Vice President Cheney will deliver remarks today on progress in the War on Terror at 11:30 a.m. from Orlando, Florida. |
BACKGROUND:
Progress In Iraq
The Iraqi People Are Moving Forward To Achieve Democracy:
President Bush Meets With New Iraqi President. "Iraqi interim President Ghazi Ajil Yawer thanked the American people Wednesday for their sacrifices and said his country was 'moving in ... steady steps' toward a free and democratic nation, one that he said would help spread stability in the Middle East. 'We are working with all our hearts to make sure that all these sacrifices of the Iraqis, as well as our friends in the coalition,' will not be wasted, said Yawer, appearing for the first time with President Bush." (Edwin Chen and Mary Curtius, "Iraqi President Thanks U.S., Promises Progress," Los Angeles Times, 6/10/04)
Iraqi President Thanks America For Its Sacrifices In Liberating Iraq. "An emotional President Bush met Wednesday for the first time with the newly designated interim president of Iraq, Sheik Ghazi Ajil al-Yawar, telling him, 'I never thought I'd be sitting next to an Iraqi president of a free country a year and a half ago.' ... 'I'm glad you're here,' Mr. Bush said to President Yawar, who replied by thanking the president and the American people 'for the sacrifices of the brave men and women of the United States' in deposing Mr. Hussein. 'We're determined to have a free, democratic, federal Iraq, a country that is a source of stability to the Middle East, which is very important for the rest of the world,' President Yawar said." (David E. Sanger and Richard Stevenson, "Bush, on 'a Special Day,' Greets New Iraqi Leader," The New York Times, 6/12/04)
Progress At The UN
The U.N. Security Council Unanimously Approves Resolution On Iraq. "The Security Council voted unanimously on Tuesday in favor of an American and British resolution to end the formal occupation of Iraq on June 30 and transfer 'full sovereignty' to an interim Iraqi government. In addition to giving international legitimacy to the new caretaker government and outlining the United Nations' role in a post-transition Iraq, the resolution authorized an American-led multinational force, now at 160,000 troops, to use 'all necessary measures' in a 'security partnership' with Iraqi forces to bring peace. The 15-to-0 vote on the measure, co-sponsored by the United States and Britain, gave President Bush a major diplomatic success as he gathered with leaders of the Group of 8 industrialized powers for a summit meeting at Sea Island, Ga." (Warren Hoge, "Security Council Backs Resolution On Iraq Turnover," The New York Times, 6/9/04)
The G-8 Leaders Welcomed The Unanimous Approval Of U.N. Security Council Resolution 1546. They noted the importance of the Multinational Force for Iraq succeeding in it mission and pledged to:
Work together to achieve debt reduction for Iraq in 2004. (Day One G8 Accomplishments, http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2004/06/20040609-50.html, 6/9/04)
Additional Progress At The G-8 Summit
Proliferation Security Initiative. With the recent addition of Russia, all G-8 member nations now participate in the Proliferation Security Initiative, which is designed to stop the trade in deadly weapons and the means to make and deliver them. Seven new donor nations have agreed to contribute funds to the global partnership to reduce and secure dangerous weapons and materials. We will expand the partnership's cooperation to address proliferation threats beyond the nations of the former Soviet Union. ("Text Of Bush News Conference," The Associated Press, 6/10/04)
IAEA Committee On Safeguards And Verification. G-8 nations agreed to President Bush's proposal to establish a special committee within the International Atomic Energy Agency that will focus intensively on safeguards and verification. All nations are being called on to sign and implement the additional protocol, which will expand the IAEA's ability to inspect nuclear activities and facilities. ("Text Of Bush News Conference," The Associated Press, 6/10/04)
Agreement On Uranium Transfers. G-8 nations agreed that over the next year our nations will not initiate any new transfers of uranium enrichment and reprocessing technology to additional nations as we work toward a permanent means to keep these materials out of the hands of outlaw nations seeking nuclear weapons. ("Text Of Bush News Conference," The Associated Press, 6/10/04)
Agreement On Prevention, Detection And Response To Biological Attacks. The G-8 agreed, for the first time, to take concrete steps to expand national and international capabilities to prevent, detect and respond to attacks with biological weapons. ("Text Of Bush News Conference," The Associated Press, 6/10/04)
African Peacekeeping. The G-8 launched a new effort to train and equip 75,000 peacekeepers over the next five years to help bring stability and security to troubled regions with an initial focus on the continent of Africa. ("Text Of Bush News Conference," The Associated Press, 6/10/04)
Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise. The G-8 established the global HIV vaccine enterprise to accelerate the efforts of scientists to defeat HIV/AIDS. ("Text Of Bush News Conference," The Associated Press, 6/10/04)
Stopping African Famine. The G-8 pledged to break the cycle of famine in the Horn of Africa. G-8 leaders met with the heads of government from six African nations to discuss their ongoing work to improve health care, institute reform and build prosperity for their peoples, as reflected in their commitment to the New Partnership for Africa's Development. ("Text Of Bush News Conference," The Associated Press, 6/10/04)
Reducing Trade Barriers. G-8 nations reaffirmed their commitment to the success of the Doha round of WTO trade negotiations and directed trade ministers to take action to get the negotiations back on track toward a successful conclusion. ("Text Of Bush News Conference," The Associated Press, 6/10/04)
Tighter Security For Air Travel. G-8 leaders approved a 28-point plan to further strengthen security within airports around the world to protect against the still evident threat of terrorism on air travelers. Through the plan they will implement quicker exchanges of information about passengers, better protected flight decks and the control of shoulder-fired missiles. ("G-8 Ok's Tighter Security for Air Travel," The Associated Press, 6/10/04)
World Unites Around Progress In The Global War On Terror
Meeting Between Bush And Schroder Described As "Warmest" Since 2003. "A meeting on Tuesday between Mr. Bush and Mr. Schroder was described by a senior administration official as 'the warmest meeting the two leaders have had since 2003,' before they split over the invasion, and he said the two men discussed a possible NATO role in training Iraqi forces." (David E. Sanger and Richard Stevenson, "8 Leaders Welcome U.N. Backing for Iraq Transition," The New York Times, 6/9/04)
UN Now Has Stake In Successful Outcome In Iraq. "By authorizing the presence of a multinational force in Iraq, it puts the Council on record approving what until now has been largely an American and British occupation, and gives the United Nations a stake in a successful outcome." (David E. Sanger and Richard Stevenson, "8 Leaders Welcome U.N. Backing for Iraq Transition," The New York Times, 6/9/04)
Iraqis Now Responsible For Own Fate. "Mr. Putin said, 'If, prior to this document, it was primarily the burden and responsibility which was upheld by the United States with regard to this country,' it is now the Iraqi people who will be responsible for their own fate, 'with a major influence now to be exercised by the entire world community.'" (David E. Sanger and Richard Stevenson, "8 Leaders Welcome U.N. Backing for Iraq Transition," The New York Times, 6/9/04)
World Now "Speaking With One Voice." "Mr. Blair, clearly relieved to have the United Nations vote behind him, said it showed the world 'speaking with one voice' in support of transferring sovereignty back to the Iraqis at the end of this month and holding elections next year. 'We all now want to put the divisions of the past behind us and unite behind the vision of a modern democratic and stable Iraq that can be a force for good, not just for Iraqis but for the whole region and thus the whole world,' he said after arriving here. 'There will be difficult and dangerous days in the coming weeks and months but there should be no doubt about what it is that we want to be happening in Iraq or our collective determination to bring it about.'" (David E. Sanger and Richard Stevenson, "8 Leaders Welcome U.N. Backing for Iraq Transition," The New York Times, 6/9/04)
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