Cairo, Tuesday June 23rd, 2009 H.E. Sheikh Ali Gomaa the Grand Mufti of Egypt, and Co-Chair of the C-1 World Dialogue called for increased efforts to promote religious tolerance and co-existence Monday at the launch of the C-1 World Dialogue Annual Report. The C-1 World Dialogue Foundation has its origins in the Council of One Hun- dred Leaders (C-100), an initiative of the World Economic Forum following the events of 9-11. The aim of the C-1 initiative is to promote constructive dialogue between the West and the Muslim World and brings together an international body of world-leaders in business, religion, NGOs, the media, academia and pub- lic life. The Grand Mufti called upon Imams, preachers and ministers of the mosques and churches in Egypt and the Arab Islamic world to fight intolerance in their ser- mons and personal contacts. The Grand Mufti was responding to data in the C-1 World Dialogue Annual Report that showed that in both the Muslim world and the West there was an increase among the general population in both the West and the Muslim world of hostility towards other religions. Sheikh Ali was speak- ing at the launch of the C-1 Annual Report at the downtown campus of the American University in Cairo. “We need profound change in religious discourse” the Grand Mufti told journal- ists at the launch,” to move religious discourse from aggressive and negative atti- tudes towards other religions, to the spirit of tolerance. And co-existence.” “Misunderstanding and misinterpretation need to be countered by truth We must engage the culture and address the root causes,” the Grand Mufti said.”. We need to change attitudes. Radio is key and I am pleased to say that Ezzaat Qu’ran karim (Qu’ran Karim Radio) is diversifying the broadcast and reinforcing the message of cooperation and peace with special commentaries between recita- tions“. Former British Prime minister Tony Blair’s is also a member of the C-1 World Executive, and in a message addressed to the Grand Mufti, Blair declared: “there are few more important tasks today than locating a proper place for religion in the affairs of the world, drawing on its wisdom to help solve the world’s problems, and increasing understanding both of and between the different faiths“. “We are all close neighbours now, which makes the task all the more urgent. If people of different faiths can co-exist in mutual respect, then so much the better for our world. I know that the C-1 World Dialogue can and will play an invalu- able part in this vital endeavour,” Blair said. Blair said that C-1’s role is to help translate dialogue into constructive action, and the more this happens the more religions will be seen in a positive light. “In a globalized world we cannot afford to ignore faith. In a shrinking world we must be global citizens as well as citizens of our own countries. HRH Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad bin Talal, Personal Envoy for HM King Ab- dullah II of Jordan and a member of the C-1 Executive described the launch of C- 1 and the Annual Report as “a moment of great satisfaction” and a positive de- velopment in the “effort to avert a clash of civilizations.” The Grand Mufti also received a message from the Anglican Bishop of London, the Right Reverend Dr. Richard Chartres who is Co- Chair, with the Grand Mufti of the C-1 World Dialogue. Bishop Chartres described C-1 as an important initia- tive with a “unique potential to improve relations between the Muslim world and the West because it involves business and religious leaders, academics, public figures and media leaders who all share a strong commitment to improve rela- tions.” “Establishing and maintaining peace is one of the most urgent issues of our time," the Bishop said. “But for it to be possible it requires that we better understand the issues that threaten peace, how people are responding to them and how the media is shaping awareness of them. I very much hope the C-1 Annual Report will stimulate con- structive debate,” The Bishop said. Canon Alistair Macdonald-Radcliff, Director General of C-1 and former Dean of the Anglican Cathedral in Cairo, Roland Schatz, co-founder of C-1 and president of Media Tenor, Europe’s largest media monitoring and research organization, and S. Abdallah Schleifer, Distinguished Professor Emeritus at the American University of Cairo and C-1 Executive Board member also participated with the Grand Mufti in the launch of the Annual Report. Other members of the Executive Board include H.B. Theofilos III, Greek ortho- dox Patriarch of Jerusalem and H.E. Sheikh Mustafa Ceric, the Grand Mufti of Bosnia – both Vice Chairs of C-1; the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Dublin Diamuid Martin; Dr. John Esposito, the well known scholar of Islam at George- town University; Muna Abu Sulayman, Executive Director of the Alwaleed Bin Talal Foundation; Prof. David F. Ford, director of the Cambridge University In- ter-Faith Program , Prof