Head Of The Elders Group Says Two Leaders In Cyprus Have An Appointment With History

LEFKOSA - The head of "The Elders" group said on Thursday that two leaders in Cyprus had an appointment with history.
Archbishop Desmond Tutu, head of "The Elders" group, defined President Mehmet Ali Talat of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and Greek Cypriot leader Demetris Christofias as brave, charismatic and young leaders.
The two leaders had an appointment with history, Tutu told a press conference at the Ledra Palace Hotel in the buffer zone in Lefkosa.
"The Elders" group is comprised of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and former Algerian Foreign Minister 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.
Tutu said that Turkish and Greek Cypriot young people, whom they had met, wished to become a single nation, and also said that the history would call the two leaders to account for having missed an opportunity.
Also, Carter said that every one he met in the island wanted peace, and negotiators should be compromising for peace.
Brahimi said that two leaders should do everything they could to make use of this opportunity.
"The Elders" was founded in 2007 by Nelson Mandela upon the suggestion of musician Peter Gabriel and businessman Richard Branson.
(BRC)
(DIP)