Hombach calls on Media and Religious Leaders to jointly fight for Tolerance and Mutual Respect At a Conference organised by the Liaison Office of the Orthodox Church and the German Broadcasters ARD & SWF in Thessaloniki, the Special Co-ordinator of the Stability Pact underlined the important role media and religious communities play as part of the building up of modern civil societies in the transition process in south eastern Europe. At the seminar entitled "Enhancing the Understanding between the Religious Communities and the Media in Southeastern Europe" Hombach said, that the newly gained freedoms of religion and expression have not always been responsibly used. He called upon media and religious leadership to jointly use their moral authority to instil the notion of tolerance and mutual respect within the emerging civil societies. This will also contribute towards interethnic reconciliation. Bodo Hombach’s speech can be read in full January 11, 2001 PR2001/001