CSIME’s Dr. Iravani attends World Economic Forum Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, 23 January 2014- The Center for the Study of Islam and the Middle East founder and executive director, Dr. Ahmad Iravani, delivered a message of engagement, cooperation, friendship and the importance of interfaith endeavors to the participants at the Davos World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2014. The World Economic Forum Annual Meeting 2014 took place from January 22 to 25, with the theme of “The Reshaping of the World: Consequences for Society, Politics and Business.” The annual World Economic Forum meeting in Davos, Switzerland, is the place the most powerful and influential people meet: nearly 50 heads of state, thousands of CEOs, members of international organizations, non-governmental organization leaders and also importantly religious leaders. Many of the sessions are televised or streamed online; however majority of the sessions take place under of the record Chathman House rules- reporters are free to quote from the discussion, however are not allowed to say who made which statement. Power Sharing and Political Islam Iravani participated in the off-the-record session, “Power Sharing and Political Islam: How is political Islam dealing with the backlash it is suffering in the Arab world?” This panel discussion included, Dr. Gilbert Lacroix, the vice president of CA Technologies, Dr. Aref A. Naye, Islamic scholar and the Libyan Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates. , Dr. Tasneem A. Siddiqui, the Chairman of Saiban, Dr. Mohamed Ashmawey, Chief Executive Office of Islamic Relief Worldwide and Dr. Ghassan Salamé, Dean of the Paris School of International Affairs. Dr. Iravani was asked to discuss Iran’s perspective on political Islam as it has evolved in the past three years in the Arab world. Interfaith Efforts and Beyond According to WEF, this year was the first time a large delegation of religious leaders were invited to discuss how ethics and morality can guide the globalization process, among other topics as well. The invitation to Dr. Iravani and other international religious leaders in this year’s World Economic Forum reflects the increasing recognition of how religion plays a vital role in the global agenda. The potential for further interfaith endeavors was explored when Dr. Iravani with other religious leaders in attendance including, Professor Michael Czerny S.J. of Georgetown University, Cardinal John O. Onaiyekan of the Cardinal and Roman Catholic Archbishop of Nigeria and Cardinal Peter Turkson of the Roman Catholic Church of Ghana/ Dr. Iravani sat down with Cardinal Turkson and Cardinal Onaiyekan to discuss how Islam and Christianity, in particular Shiites and Catholics, can bring peace to conflict areas and for further International interfaith endeavors. After the discussion, Cardinal Onaiyekan invited Ayatollah Iravani to take place in an interfaith conference between Muslims and Christians in Nigeria. Indonesia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Marty Natalegawa, impressed with Dr. Iravani’s interfaith efforts, also invited him to visit Indonesia in order to explore opportunities to facilitate interfaith dialogue and cooperation between religious leaders and intellectuals in the United States and Indonesia. “We hope the path of international interfaith dialogue and cooperation will continue, ensuring the removal of all existing issues between faiths. CSIME has so far done its best in that regard and will continue to do so,” Iravani told reporters in Davos. Dr. Iravani also expressed how the WEF conference was a great opportunity to not only meet with religious and business leaders but also past and present politicians. These include but are not limited to: President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Dr. Hassan Rouhani, Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Dr. Mohammad Javad Zarif, the Chief of Staff of the President of Iran, Dr. Mohammad Nahavandian, Dr. Nabil Fahmy, Foreign Minister of Egypt, Former United Nations Secretary-General Honorable Kofi Anan and Lady Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy for the European Union. Dr. Iravani also met with Sweden’s Foreign Minister, Honorable Carl Bildt, Norway’s Foreign Honorable Børge Brende, and Jordan’s Foreign Minister Honorable Nasser Judeh. When asked about Iran’s role in the region and the current conflict in Syria, Dr. Iravani emphasized how throughout all of his talks and meetings with representatives and officials he encouraged everyone to continue reaching out to Iran for further cooperation based on mutual respect concerning matters in the region. He went on to also illustrate how the conflict in Syria and broader conflicts in the Middle East will only be resolved once Iran and Saudi Arabia are able to settle their differences and work towards stabilization together. Before his flight to Washington DC, Iravani also expressed to the reporters how he is thankful for the World Economic Forum for recognizing the important role religion and religious leaders play in the world and that he hopes that the relationships fostered in Davos would launch a number of interfaith initiatives across the globe.