During his Press Conference on 6 October with the Prime Minister, Mr Talabani spoke of the contribution the Coalition has made to the democratic process in Iraq:
'Thank you for liberating us from dictatorship, and thank you for helping us build our democracy, a new Iraq. With the help of our allies, the people of Iraq are now free, they are enjoying all kinds of democratic rights. We are - Iraqis - building a democracy from the ruin of a country shattered by a brutal dictatorship.'
The Prime Minister said that the UK was committed to the course of democracy in Iraq.
'I think it is so important that we stay the course and see this through, to help the Iraqi people get the democracy they so self-evidently want.'
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Full transcript of the press conference - Number 10 website |
Mr Talabani also spoke to Chatham House on 6 October on 'Building a Democratic, Peaceful and Secure Iraq'. The speech was well received by the audience.
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Transcript of Mr Talabani's speech, Chatham House, 06-10-05 (PDF, 16K) |
Mr Talabani said that the 'January [2005] election was a milestone in the history of Iraq and the Middle East', and that the 15th October 2005 'referendum on the constitution would be another one'. He reported that the discussions over the constitution had been constructive and healthy, forming an integral element in the process of national reconciliation.
On the insurgency, Mr Talabani said that Iraq's 'new democracy was under attack by a minority - the enemies of the Iraqi people who can not bear the idea of democracy taking root in Iraq.'
Mr Talabani thanked the UK's contribution and commented that the withdrawal of the Multi- National Force in the near future 'could lead to a victory of the terrorists in Iraq, and create grave threats to the region, and the civilised world'.
