Top Vatican official hails transfer of power in Iraq

Published: 2004-06-28

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- The Vatican's top foreign affairs official hailed the transfer of power to an Iraqi provisional government, saying Iraq "can only be governed and understood by its own people." Archbishop Giovanni Lajolo, an assistant secretary of state, said the success of the Iraqi government will depend largely on its ability to ensure political freedom, restore basic services and crack down on "cowardly acts" of terrorism. The stakes in Iraq are high, he said, because the outcome "could determine the development of democracy in the whole region." Archbishop Lajolo made the comments in an interview with Catholic News Service June 28. The same day, the United States handed over sovereignty to an interim Iraqi government headed by Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, formally ending a 14-month occupation two days ahead of schedule. "The formal transfer of power is of great importance," Archbishop Lajolo said.

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