UNITED NATIONS - UN Secretary General Kofi Annan on Monday congratulated the new leader of breakaway northern Cyprus, Mehmet Ali Talat, who advocates reunification for the divided Mediterranean island.
Voters in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, which is recognised only by Turkey, elected Talat on Sunday amid hopes of an end to the 31-year division with the internationally recognised Greek Cypriot south.
"He is glad that the leadership of the Turkish Cypriot community has been clarified and he welcomes the renewed evidence of commitment to a peaceful resolution of the Cyprus issue," Annan's spokesman said in a statement.
"He congratulates Mr Mehmet Ali Talat and, in the context of his mission of good offices, looks forward to working productively with him in the continuing search for peace on the island," the statement said.
Annan worked for years to draft a peace plan to reunify the island that was accepted in a referendum last year by voters in the TRNC but overwhelmingly rejected in the south.
The UN chief has since called on Cypriot President Tassos Papadopoulos, who urged Greek Cypriots to turn down the Annan plan, to provide a written explanation of his objections.
"I hold out a hand to the Greek Cypriot administration," Talat said after his win at the polls.
Cyprus has been divided since 1974, when the Turkish army invaded and occupied the northern third after a coup by Greek Cypriots that tried to unite the island with Greece.
04/18/2005 18:55 GMT