At the annual U.S.-Islamic World Forum last Saturday, President Obama announced that Rashad Hussain, deputy associate White House counsel, “will serve as a special U.S. envoy to the 57-nation Organisation of the Islamic Conference.” An administration official remarked that “[a]ppointing a special envoy to the OIC is an important part of the president’s commitment to engaging Muslims around the world based on mutual respect and mutual interest,” Politico reported.

Politico also noted that Hussain has been an integral part of the Obama administration’s efforts to promote bilateral partnerships with the Muslim world:

Hussain’s work at the White House focuses on national security, new media, and science and technology issues. Hussain has also worked with the national security staff in developing the partnerships with the Muslim world that Obama outlined in his “On a New Beginning” address in June.

Since the President’s June speech, “the U.S. has worked with the OIC on eradicating polio,” a disease that remains disproportionately endemic in Muslim countries.

The announcement came as Secretary of State Hillary Clinton traveled to the region, where her talks focused heavily on Iran.