Embassy News
Ambassador Ryan Crocker Remarks at the Opening of the Russafah Courthouse
September 10, 2008
Baghdad, Iraq
AMBASSADOR CROCKER: Thank you very much, Judge Salem. Your Excellency, the Prime Minister, Your Excellency, the President of the Higher Judicial Council, members of the Higher Judicial Council, excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, Peace be upon you and wishing you a generous Ramadan.
It's an honor to be here with you on this important occasion. We, from the United States of America, are very pleased to have been your partners, providing the funding and the supervision for the construction of this Palace of Justice in Russafah. The United States, both through the U.S. military and through the civilian agencies, has been a partner in the building of the facilities and the securing of facilities for Iraq's judiciary since 2003. And the presence of General Petraeus and myself here today represents the fact that there is nothing more important for the future of the new Iraq than the building of a strong, capable, and independent judiciary.
This is rightly called the Palace of Justice. It was built by Iraqis for Iraqis. But, as great as this building is, what it will be used for is far greater, because it is in this palace that the common man will receive justice. And it causes us to remember, as we have already heard today, that justice on this earth is rendered by men for men, in this case, very, very brave, very committed men and women, all too many of whom have given their lives for the cause of justice in Iraq.
All of you -- judges, prosecutors, lawyers, prison guards, security officers -- all of you, in my estimation, are heroes.
The judgments that are handed down in this palace of justice will help write the future history of Iraq. What is written on the banner overheard, as Judge Salem pointed out, is very important: "The independence of the judiciary is the foundation of the nation of law." There is nothing more important than that principle, and all of you today have committed yourselves, your efforts, to realizing that principle in the new Iraq.
And the presence today of the prime minister and his inspiring words is the clearest possible signal of the commitment of the government of Iraq to the development of a nation of laws.
So, once again, I thank you for letting us be part of this great occasion, and we look forward to our further efforts to support Iraq and Iraqis in the development of the judicial and legal system. (Speaks in Arabic.)
(Applause.)
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