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U.S. Honors the Member States of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) at a Reception to Introduce Sada Cumber, U.S. Special Envoy to the OIC
March, 2008
U.S. Seccretary of State Rice and U.S. Special Envoy to the OIC Sada Cumber
U.S. Seccretary of State Rice and U.S. Special Envoy to the OIC Sada Cumber
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Secretary Rice, introducing Mr. Cumber, said, “This appointment is one part of a much larger effort that our government has undertaken to increase our engagement with Muslim communities worldwide. We in the United States recognize that we have a lot to learn about the more than 1 billion people across the world who live and practice the faith of Islam. Our new Special Envoy to the OIC will enable us to further our understanding of the community of Islamic nations through a positive and mutually respectful exchange.”

Rice further noted that, “This is the first time that a U.S. President has made such an appointment to the OIC, an important organization whose member states include some of the U.S.’s closest friends and partners. It signals the deep respect for the values and the ideals of Islam that are held by the U.S. Government and the American people.”

“This appointment is also an opportunity for the United States to expand our cooperation with Muslim communities worldwide to defend and promote the principles that we hold dear: human rights and human dignity, social justice and equal opportunity, liberty and the rule of law. These are not American values or Western values. They are universal values, values that are lived and practiced by the majority of Muslims in the world, many of whom are citizens of democracies. The OIC plays a vital role in promoting moderation, dialogue and understanding and we welcome the statements that this organization has made in support of those values.

As the President’s representative to the OIC, Sada Cumber will seek to promote mutual understanding between the United States and Muslim communities around the world and to build forward-looking partnerships to advance common purposes. One of Mr. Cumber’s first official duties will be to attend the 11th OIC Summit, which is set to take place in Dakar, Senegal, from March 8-14, 2008.”

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Full text of Secretary Rice’s Remarks at the Reception in Honor of the Member States of the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC) to Introduce Sada Cumber, U.S. Special Envoy to the OIC
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