WASHINGTON: The United States is seeking to dispel Muslim misperceptions about it by sending its first envoy to the Organization of the Islamic Conference, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Monday.
Sada Cumber, a Pakistani-born businessman from Texas, was named by President George W. Bush last week as special envoy to the 57-member OIC to promote understanding and dialogue with Muslim countries.
This is the first time that a US president has made such an appointment to the OIC, Rice told ambassadors of OIC countries during a ceremony at the State Department in Washington, DC.
This appointment is one part of a much larger effort that our government has undertaken to increase our engagement with the Muslim community worldwide, Rice said.
The appointment will also help expand US cooperation with Muslim communities worldwide and promote the principles that we hold dear like human rights, social justice, equal opportunity, liberty and the rule of law, she said.
She insisted these were universal values shared by Muslims and non-Muslims alike.
His appointment will serve to explain US principles and policies to Muslims communities worldwide, she added.
The notion that the United States is at war with Islam … is simply propagated by violent extremists who seek to divide Muslim communities against themselves as part of their bid to impose an intolerant ideology, she said.
Our new special envoy to the OIC will combat these misperceptions about the United States that are spread by our enemies, Rice said, adding he will work instead with Muslim communities for unity and peace.
Rice added that Cumber will travel to the OIC summit opening Thursday in Dakar, Senegal. So, he s already on the job, she said.
Cumber said he would work hard to facilitate dialogue and build bridges but admitted he did not expect his job to be an easy one because he will represent US interests on controversial subjects like Iraq. -AFP
