Condoleeza Rice may meet Turkish Cypriot leader Talat

US embassy charge d’affaires Jane Zimmerman has said Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was prepared to meet Mehmet Ali Talat in his capacity as the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community during his visit to the US.

“I can tell you that the Secretary of State is prepared to see Mr Talat as the leader of the Turkish Cypriot community,” she told journalists, when invited to comment on press reports that an invitation has been extended to Talat to meet Rice in Washington.

She said that the US “engage with the leaders of both communities in our efforts to work towards a solution to the Cyprus issue.”

Last year a UN-backed plan to reunifiy the island failed when it was rejected by 76% of Greek Cypriots but accepts by 65% of Turkish Cypriots.