Tutu, Carter, Other "Elders" Visit Turkish Cypriot President

LEFKOSA - South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu led a group of "The Elders" delegation in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) to meet President Mehmet Ali Talat in Lefkosa on Thursday.
Tutu was accompanied by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and former Algerian Foreign Minister and veteran UN envoy Lakhdar Brahimi.
The "elder" statesmen came to the island ahead of a new round of peace talks that was launched by Talat and Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias last month.
"The Elders" group met Turkish and Greek Cypriot politicians to advocate solution process in the island and to encourage support of the international community to the new process.
"The Elders" was founded in 2007 by Nelson Mandela upon the suggestion of musician Peter Gabriel and businessman Richard Branson.
Talat also met early in the morning with UN Secretary-General`s special envoy for Cyprus Alexander Downer.
(TÇ-MS)
(DIP)