Remarks by Ambassador Carol Rodley at Iftar Reception in Kompung Chhnang

Kompung Chhnang September 4, 2010

Good evening and Ramadan Kareem. I am honored to be with you all tonight. Imam tam Hachy Hasim, I want to thank you for your warm remarks. Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining us on this beautiful evening to celebrate Ramadan and its spirit of faith and community.

It is a special honor to bread bread with you tonight. Here in Kampong Chhnang, this is the first Ramadan gathering we have had together. Although we are from different backgrounds and cultures, as we sit together we share a common belief – belief in peace, compassion, and in a tolerant world where our children can blossom and grow into responsible, happy adults.

In his video message, President Obama said that Ramadan is a reminder that Islam has always been a part of America. American Muslim have mad extraordinary contributions to our country, and the Muslim community in the United States is a vibrant and integral part of our multi-faith and multi-cultural country.

Likewise, we know that the Cambodian Muslim communities have made unique and important contributions to Cambodian society, history and culture. As many of you know, the U.S. Embassy has engaged in various partnerships with the Cham community. Later this evening I encourage you to look at the pictures we will continue to show on screen throughout dinner, which highlight some of our ongoing outreach activities.

Throughout the past year, embassy staff have worked with Cham in a number of positive ways – collaborating on humanitarian projects together and engaging in substantive dialogue resulting in increased mutual understanding. I look back proudly at all we have accomplished – from child survival intervention and nutrition training to medical clinics and English language traning for secondary school students.

I look forward to building on the success of this past year and working to deepen our friendship, to strengthen our ties. I also hope to engage new partners and hear new ideas about how the embassy and the Cham community can work together to build a better world.

Thank you very much for your attention, and I wish you all a very blessed Ramadan. Please enjoy this halal meal – Ramadan Mubarak.