United States President George W. Bush announced Wednesday he would appoint a special envoy to the Organization of the Islamic Conference (OIC), an international inter-governmental umbrella organization, which consists of 57 Muslim states.
The envoy "will listen to and learn from representatives from Muslim states and will share with them America’s views and values," Bush said during a ceremony honoring the 50th anniversary of the Islamic Center, a mosque and cultural center in Washington DC.
"This is an opportunity for Americans to demonstrate to Muslim communities our interest in respectful dialogue and continued friendship," Bush said.
The OIC was established in Morocco in 1969 to strengthen solidarity and cooperation among the Muslim countries, especially in the fields of politics and economy.
"We welcome the appointment of a special envoy to the OIC as recognition that positive and respectful dialogue is the best way to build bridges of understanding between our nation and the Muslim world," the U.S.-based Council on American Relations (CAIR) said in a statement.