US Sends First Envoy to Fight Muslim Misperceptions

March 10, 2008

Author: Staff Writer

Source: Yahoo!News

Wire Service: AFP

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080310/pl_afp/oicislamwestusdiplomacy;_ylt=AhyLte1ANkz6fpug5Iw7Voo7Xs8F

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," Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told ambassadors of OIC countries during a ceremony at the State Department in Washington, DC.