After meeting the leaders of the Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities during The Elders' fourth visit to the divided island, Desmond Tutu and Gro Brundtland emphasise that greater goodwill, trust and compromise are needed to achieve a lasting resolution of the conflict.

As popular uprisings unfold across the Middle East and North Africa, The Elders commend the courageous citizens campaigning to reform their societies and express their solidarity with all those crying out for freedom and basic rights.

Desmond Tutu and Gro Brundtland will launch The Elders' new documentary film, Cyprus: Digging the Past in Search of the Future, at a special screening in Cyprus before being joined by fellow Elder Lakhdar Brahimi in London to share the film with members of the Cypriot diaspora.

As 3.9 million people across South Sudan prepare to vote in a referendum on self-determination beginning this Sunday, The Elders have urged international and Sudanese officials to respect the rights of all voters - whatever the outcome.

Israeli-Palestinian negotiations must be grounded in international law and human rights – define borders and address security issues first

After years of peace negotiations that have failed to bring Israelis and Palestinians a lasting peace, The Elders call for a renewed effort towards a two-state solution – one which is firmly grounded in international law and human rights.

With one month to go until South Sudan votes on whether to secede from the North, The Elders call for a peaceful, timely and credible referendum and urge the international community to engage with all parties to prevent possible violence, both during referendum and in the coming months.

With non-violent Palestinian activist Abdallah Abu Rahmah facing a possible extension of his prison sentence, The Elders - who met Abu Rahmah during their last visit to the region - call on the Israeli authorities to release him immediately, without conditions.

“Doing a short-term deal on settlements to restart direct talks is desperate and wrong” – Mary Robinson

The Elders remind Israel, the United States and the international community that settlement expansion is illegal under international law – any short-term moratorium on Israeli settlement activity is a step backwards for the peace process.

Following the release of Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest, The Elders repeat their call for all political prisoners in the country to be released and express concern about Burma's recent national elections, which were neither free nor fair.

The possibility of a viable two-state solution being eroded by settlement expansion, Palestinian home demolitions and deportations

Mary Robinson, Ela Bhatt and Jimmy Carter are in the Middle East to encourage support for a two-state solution, but also to highlight issues that stand in the way of achieving “a just and secure peace for all”. They conclude their week-long visit to the region on Friday. During their visit to the region they have held meetings in Gaza, Egypt, Syria, Jordan, Israel and the West Bank.