by halil » Tue Oct 07, 2008 1:36 pm
The information i got was as follows (date was 3/10/2008)
The Elders to visit Cyprus to support peace process
Three members of The Elders will visit Cyprus in early October to lend their support to the
leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities, and to commend Mr Demetris
Christofias and Mr Mehmet Ali Talat for their efforts to reunify the island.
The Elders urge the international community to embrace the fact that a lasting settlement is within reach, and to actively support the leaders and the peace process.
Elders Chairman Archbishop Desmond Tutu, former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and former
Algerian Foreign Minister Lakhdar Brahimi will travel together to Nicosia on 8-9 October for
meetings with the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot leaders.
“After decades of division, this is a time of hope for the people of this beautiful island. These
opportunities don`t come around very often,” said Archbishop Tutu.
“The Elders will not be involved in the negotiations themselves; that is for the Cypriots to do,” he said. “However, we will do what we can to ensure that the foresight and courage of Mr. Talat and Mr Christofias are acknowledged and supported in Cyprus, in the region and around the world. We also hope to meet political and civil society representatives from both
communities, as well as the UN officials facilitating and assisting the process.”
The Elders, formed in 2007 by Nelson Mandela and Graça Machel, are a group of globally
respected leaders who offer their collective experience and independent voices to support
innovative and cooperative approaches to addressing the global
The Elders