William H. Frist: “later today, several of our Senate colleagues and I will have the honor of hosting interim Iraqi President Jalal…”

“later today, several of our Senate colleagues and I will have the honor of hosting interim Iraqi President Jalal Talabani and members of his cabinet in the U.S. Capitol. President Talabani was elected in April of this year. Since then, we have seen the Iraqis form their first democratically elected Government in over half a century. We have also witnessed complex and painstaking negotiations to draft a permanent Iraqi constitution. That historic document, that hopeful document, will be put to the people October 15, which is one short month away. The draft Iraqi constitution is a solid foundation for a democratic Iraq. It establishes a true democracy, a democratic system in which the voice of all Iraqis will be heard, human rights will be protected, the rule of law will be respected, and women will be full and equal political partners. It is a product of deliberate negotiations that included letters from all of Iraq's ethnic and religious groups. The process required enormous patience and flexibility--in other words, the tools of the democratic process--and it required great courage. In the face of constant terrorist threats and violence, the Iraqi people showed once again their determination to secure their rights and their future as a free and democratic nation. Garnering support for the new constitution is now one of President Talabani's most pressing tasks.…”