25 June 2003
Former Iraqi Soldiers To Receive Monthly Stipends Starting in July
(Bremer says new army is being created that is "suited to a democratic nation") (1230) The chief U.S. administrator in Iraq, Ambassador Paul Bremer, announced June 25 that the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) would begin to pay interim monthly stipends to former Iraqi soldiers and their families by mid-July. Bremer, speaking at a Baghdad press conference, said the payments were part of an effort to make life easier for former soldiers during the transition of Iraq's armed forces. The ambassador said many former officers and soldiers "worked hard, to earn salaries to care for their families. These men should not be punished for the cruelty of senior Ba'ath and military officials." However, he added that former officers in the top four ranks of the Ba'ath party, Special Republican Guard members or former mukhabarat (secret police) would not be paid, as well as "anyone linked with terrorist organizations or with responsibility for war crimes." The new army, he said would be "suited to a democratic nation," said Bremer. Service will be voluntary and advancement "will be based on merit and not on loyalty to any party." The initial 12,000 person army will increase to 40,000 within two years. "It will be Iraqi because it will be made up of Iraqi soldiers and commanded by Iraqi officers," said Bremer. However, he acknowledged that the new army would be "considerably smaller" than the Iraqi military was under Saddam Hussein, and he said the CPA understands that "it will take time for former soldiers to transfer their leadership skills into the civil economy." To address the needs of former soldiers, Bremer said there will be many jobs opening up for them in the fields of civilian security and law enforcement, construction and engineering, and community and national rehabilitation projects. "There will also be career counseling and retraining programs that cater specifically to helping former soldiers find work in the new economy," said Bremer. Turning to electricity and water problems in the country, Bremer said the CPA was working to repair the main power line between Baghdad and Bayji which he said was sabotaged by "rogue Ba'athist elements." The Ba'athists, he said, are "waging their own sabotage campaign not against the Coalition, but against the Iraqi people. They do not want a free, democratic and peaceful Iraq to succeed," but said the authorities will not allow the saboteurs to "turn back the clock on the Iraqi people." Following is a transcript of Ambassador Bremer's June 25 press conference in Baghdad: (begin transcript) Bremer's Opening Statement Arabic Press Conference 25 June 2003 Mesa' al-khair. Thank you all for coming. I would like to begin with a few remarks. Earlier this week we announced the formation of the New Iraqi Army. This is an important development for a free Iraq. The mission of the New Iraqi Army will be defense of Iraq, not reckless offensive operations, and not suppression of internal dissent. The old army of was part of the old system. And we formally disbanded it so it could be replaced by new military organizations and new forces suited to a democratic nation -- suited to a Government that does not use its military to terrorize its neighbors or terrorize its own citizens. A country at peace with its neighbors. It is important, however, to acknowledge that the Iraqi army had a long tradition of service to nation, and that many of its officers and soldiers regarded themselves as professionals serving their fellow citizens, not the Regime. Many worked hard, to earn salaries to care for their families. These men should not be punished for the cruelty of senior Ba'ath and military officials. We said during the war that former military personnel - except for those most deeply involved in the old Regime - would be part of the future Iraq. And we are staying true to our word in the formation of the New Iraqi Army. We will initially form a division-sized army, 12,000-strong, which will be fully trained and operational in a year's time. Its size will increase to 40,000 by the end of the second year. It is important to note that service in the New Army will be voluntary. No one will be forced against their will to join. Advancement in it will be based on merit and not on loyalty to any party. It will be Iraqi because it will be made up of Iraqi soldiers and commanded by Iraqi officers. In the meantime, Iraq will have an army which will be considerably smaller than what it had under Saddam Hussein's regime. There will be many men who will have to learn new skills and find new employment. We understand that it will take time for former soldiers to transfer their leadership skills into the civil economy. In order to address this problem, there will be many jobs opening up for ex-military in the rapidly expanding fields of: -- Civilian security guard forces to protect key installations and facilities -- Local police, border patrols and other law-enforcement agencies -- Construction and engineering -- Community and national rehabilitation projects There will also be career counseling and retraining programs that cater specifically to helping former soldiers find work in the new economy. Although I believe that the solidly growing economy and the above measures will, in time, make productive civilians out of Iraq's former soldiers, I realize that more is required. In order, therefore, to make this transition easier for Iraq's former soldiers and their families, we will be paying continuing interim monthly. We have said we would pay some sort of compensation to these soldiers since the beginning and we will stay true to our word, and begin paying these stipends by mid-July. Consistent with our policy on de-Ba'athification, we will not pay former officers who were in the top four ranks of the Ba'ath party, the Special Republican Guard, or the mukhabarat. Nor will we pay anyone linked with terrorist organizations or with responsibility for war crimes. Finally, let me say a word about electricity and water. As you all probably aware, we are experiencing power problems around the country and water shortages in Baghdad. This is due to sabotage of the main power line between Bayji and Baghdad. We are doing everything to sort this out, and hope to have power and water supply improved soon. These saboteurs are rogue Ba'athist elements who are determined to hinder Coalition efforts to make life better for ordinary Iraqi people. They are waging their own sabotage campaign not against the Coalition, but against the Iraqi people. They do not want a free, democratic and peaceful Iraq to succeed. We will not be deterred. We will not allow a small group of former Ba'athists turn back the clock on the Iraqi people. We are focused on our goal of improving the quality of life for all, not just the few, as it was under Saddam. He grossly underinvested in public services, which is why the electricity and water infrastructure is so fragile. We shall resolve the problem and improve Iraq's capacity to meet the needs of its people. This will take time, but the Coalition and the Iraqi people working together will succeed. Thank you very much. I will be happy to take your questions. (end transcript) (Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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