Obama names special envoy to OIC

By Ramesh Mathew

In a major step aimed at improving US relations with the Muslim world, President Barack Obama has appointed one of his deputy associate counsels as his special representative to the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC).

Rashad Hussain, who works at the White House focusing on national security, news media, and science and technology issues would be his nominee to the powerful Muslim forum, which represents more than 50 Islamic countries.

The announcement of Hussain’s appointment came during Obama’s televised address to the delegates of the US-Islamic World Forum, which opened in Doha yesterday. The gathering greeted his appointment with a thumping applause.

Hussain, who was present at the conference, was later introduced to the gathering, by The Brookings Institution’s vice president and foreign policy program director Martin Indyk.

Describing Hussain a widely respected Muslim leader in the US, Obama expressed the hope that Hussain would be able to play a major role in improving relations between people of two diverse worlds.

Hussain had also previously served as a trial attorney at the US Department of Justice.

In his address, the US president reiterated his administration’s commitment to strengthen democratic institutions, traditions and principles.

While thanking the Emir of Qatar HH Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani for his sincere efforts to improve relations between the US and the Muslim world, Obama felt the ongoing exercise of Brookings Institution would go a long way in strengthening relations.

Specifically recalling former US president Bill Clinton’s efforts to find a permanent solution to the Israel-Palestine crisis, Obama felt long-lasting peace in the territories would help a long way in bringing permanent peace to the whole of the Middle East.

“Prosperity in the region would help create more educational and employment opportunities to the region’s youth,” he felt.

Obama also recalled the initiatives made by the US Administration in sending a four-member team of highly qualified Muslim doctors in a bid to prevent HIN1 in spreading to more areas of the region.

Source: Gulf Times.
Link: http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=342902&version=1&template_id=36&parent_id=16.