It seems that the electoral schedule planned by the UN's resolution will be respected, despite increasing attacks and murders of personalities of the former regime, but also of democratic forces.

Should then the ballot be postponed? This a real dilemma, as on one hand the Iraqi government legitimacy should be reinforced to enable them to act with their political means (and therefore lead the country towards independence…), that's why the elections are so important. On the other hand, in the context of the long-disputed handover of power, if the elections are not properly prepared, there is a risk of a further weakened government and therefore that the whole process is discredited.

The United States government faced with a heavy responsibility

Daily life for the Iraqi people is very precarious. The US reject the responsibility for the difficulty with reconstruction as regards security problems, on the contrary they are not doing that much to enable the Iraqi people to go back to normal life.

Moreover, the delay in the transition process to give the power back to the Iraqi authorities is largely due to the occupation forces, thus weakening even more the Iraq's interim government.

In this situation, the discontent cannot but raise and thus reinforce the hostility towards the occupants accused of seeking to prolong indefinitely their stay. The armed opposition is taking advantage of this muddy situation and keeps on benefiting from the support at least passive of a part of the population.

Sovereignty Now!

The return to a real, actual and visible sovereignty seems to be the key to easing this degenerating situation. The divisions grow hollow amidst the population, which is the first victim of the occupants military operations and of the murders of the Iraqi armed factions. It is very urgent to resolutely pass from a military process to a political one. Here are some proposals to change the cards on the table quickly and to open on to a political process:

•  announcement of an immediate halt to US military operations

Such an initiative should be taken several days before the elections, in order to give an actual and tangible sign of respect for the electoral process and sovereignty: soldiers confined to their barracks, halt to air ballets, patrols and check points to give the streets back to the Iraqi people

•  announcement of troop withdrawal date

This would be such a great action for the Iraqi people who think the occupation will never end!

The announcement of a withdrawal date of the troops would eventually legitimate the “process of sovereignty”. This would also give the new government the proper time to disarm, to free a constitutional and democratic process and to reconstruct the country. Al this should be considered in the frame of an international participation to the reconstruction of the country and negotiated by the UN.

•  The reinforcement of civil society

The Us partners do not represent themselves alone the diversity of civil society at all, and at present the democratic opposition is crushed between the Islamic and nationalist factions and the US supporters. But the participation of the Iraqi people in the reconstruction and in the democratic process is absolutely necessary. Therefore, they should play the major role. This rapidly growing civil society should be given the economic and political means to bring democracy to Iraq and reconstruct it.

France, jointly with the EU, could urge on these aims. Faced with bloody Iraq, a waiting attitude wouldn't be responsible, and an international pressure in favour of a real sovereignty process is entirely urgent and necessary.

Saint-Ouen, 24 January 2005