L. Paul Bremer, III
Administrator
Coalition Provisional Authority
Ministry of Municipalities and Public Works
Baghdad
5 April 2004

The Ministry of Municipalities and Public Works touches the lives of more Iraqis than perhaps any other part of the Iraqi government. As the employees of this Ministry know, modern urban life cannot long be sustained without clean water, and the cleanliness and public health benefits provided by sewage treatment and waste collection— are fundamental to civilized life.

The daily health and comfort of millions depend on the efforts of some 40,000 Iraqis who work not only here in your new headquarters, but in some 500 locations all over the country.

You have worked with local councils and Coalition partners to designate priorities for a further 82 major projects. When these projects are completed, fully 75 percent of the Iraqi population will have running water—a higher percentage than at any time in Iraq’s history.

Madame Minister, you and your colleagues have done a wonderful job of coordinating your projects with local groups. This collaboration between Baghdad and local governments, so rare under Saddam, stands as a model to be emulated across all government ministries.

From the moment you assumed your duties you formed a smoothly operating team with Senior Advisor Michael Mutter and set about the business of making your ministry serve the Iraqi people.

Together you have inaugurated a comprehensive management structure for your ministry to work with USAID, DFID and other international partners. You have established programs to:

• rehabilitate 14 water treatment plants and replaced 22 kilometers of leaking pipes in Basrah.
• replace some 200 kilometers of local water distribution networks around the country.
• rehabilitate sewage treatment plants in Najaf and Hillah.

We in the Coalition are doing our part to help. In the months ahead the United States will spend over $3,600 million on potable water, water conservation, sewerage and solid waste management.

All this is occurring as Iraq’s people move toward sovereignty on June 30. As the Transitional Administrative Law specifies, June 30 starts an 18-month clock ticking, a clock which will bring Iraq four elections, a constitution and a directly elected national government before the end of 2005.

And so today it is a particular honor to participate in the opening of this building and the transfer of full authority to this ministry.

Minster Bawari, I congratulate you—not just for the work you and your colleagues have already done, but for the contributions you will continue to make in improving the lives of your fellow citizens all over this Land between the Two Rivers.

Day after day, Iraq’s future of hope moves toward becoming a reality.

Mabruk al Iraq al Jadeed.
Aash al-Iraq!