NewsWednesday, March 12, 2008
Pakistani-American first US envoy to OIC
WASHINGTON: Sada Cumber, a 59-year-old Texas businessman who was born and educated in Karachi, has been appointed as America’s first special envoy to the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC). US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice announced his appointment on Monday, at a State Department ceremony attended by most Muslim ambassadors, including Mahmud Ali Durrani, the ambassador of Pakistan. Rice said the appointment signaled the deep respect for the values and the ideals of Islam held by President Bush, the US government and the American people. “This appointment is one part of a much larger effort that our government has undertaken to increase our engagement with Muslim communities worldwide.” Cumber said he would act as a channel to communicate OIC member states’ ideas and perspective back to the US. He said he did not expect a consensus on every issue, but hoped the two sides could foster a climate of mutual respect and trust. khalid hasan
Courtesy Daily Times