IFTAAR DINNER OFFERED BY U.S. AMBASSADOR JEANINE JACKSON TO THE MEMBERS OF BURKINA FASO MUSLIM COMMUNITY

OUAGADOUGOU, SEPTEMBER 27, 2007

AMBASSADOR JACKSON'S REMARKS

"Assala Malleikoun"

Dear Mr. President of the Muslim Community of Burkina Faso;
Ladies and gentlemen.

It is a real pleasure for me to speak on the occasion of this dinner that I am offering to you tonight in this holy fasting month.
Organizing an Iftaar for Muslims is part of my Government's policy of solidarity, cohesion, peace, and freedom of religion toward the entire world Muslim community.  We must sustain/defend the cause of freedom - including the freedom of the people in the entire world to practice their religion peacefully.  Defending this cause advises all of us to firmly oppose all those who commit evil things in the name of God.  In the same order of idea, President Bush said this: "I believe that it is time for all the leading Muslims to denounce an ideology that exploit Islam for political purposes and profane a noble faith.
To conclude, I would like to wish that this holy fasting month of tolerance, devotion, and sacrifice inspire all the Burkinabe to work together for peace and progress in Burkina Faso and throughout Africa.
Thanks.