The United Nations Secretary General’s Undersecretary for Political Affairs Ibrahim Gambari, who is on a tour to the region on the Cyprus issue, was received by President Talat and Greek Cypriot Leader Papadopoulos separately yesterday (6 July 2006).

After completing his contacts in Ankara and Athens, Gambari, who arrived on the island yesterday morning, first had contacts with the Greek Cypriot Leader Papadopoulos and then met with President Talat.

Speaking after his meeting with the leader of the Greek Cypriot Administration Tassos Papadopoulos, Gambari said he would prepare a report to the UN Secretary General after returning to New York with the set of recommendations on how to move the process forward. The Greek Cypriot Government Spokesman told reporters that that the Greek Cypriot side is ready for negotiations under the auspices of the United Nations.

After his meeting with Papadopoulos Gambari crossed over the TRNC and was received by President Mehmet Ali Talat. Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer and UN Secretary General’s Special Representative and UNFCYP’s Chief of Mission Michael Moller were also present at the meeting.

In a joint press conference after the meeting Mr. Gambari told reporters that he completed the first round of his meetings with the two leaders and that they had fruitful meetings where they clarified many issues.

He said with the aim of resuming the negotiations he would prepare a report to the UN Secretary General after returning to New York with the set of recommendations on how to move the process forward.

For his part, President Talat said they had a useful meeting with Gambari and his team, where they conveyed their views and messages. President said they also called for an initiative from the United Nations for an urgent solution to the Cyprus problem.

“We really believe that solution is an urgent need for our island` he said, warning that problems being faced now, because of the lack of a solution in Cyprus, will become more difficult in the course of time” President said.

Stating that they would continue to their meeting on Saturday President Talat said, they made a start and would discuss details and different topics on Saturday.

Spokesman to the President, Hasan Ercakıca issuing a statement after the meeting announced that the President also handed a letter for the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to Mr Gambari proposing confidence building measures and said that the President had made a new proposal for the resumption of the negotiations.

Ercakıca said, the President reiterated the Turkish Cypriot Side’s readiness for negotiations under the auspices of the United Nations to find a comprehensive settlement to the Cyprus problem on the basis of the Annan Plan.

In the meantime, members of Osman Sarper’s family staged a demonstration in front of the Presidential Palace during the meeting between President Mehmet Ali Talat and the United Nations Undersecretary General for Political Affairs Ibrahim Gambari.

The demonstration was supported by various non-governmental organization and members of the Parliament.

Protestors carried banners written both in English and Turkish saying “is this the EU Law?” “Osman Sarper is not guilty and must be set free” “Is this justice?” and chanted slogans condemning the arrest of Mr Sarper.

The trial of the Turkish Cypriot architect Osman Sarper, who was arrested by the Greek Cypriot Police while trying to cross into South Cyprus for  possessing files of architectural projects and documents continued yesterday.

The Greek Cypriot judge, has ordered the hearing to be adjourned until Wednesday, the 12^th of July, and for Osman Sarper to remain under arrest until that date on the grounds that the architect may not return to South Cyprus to appear at the Court again.

Meanwhile, the wife of Osman Sarper, Senal Sarper said his husband was experiencing problems due to high blood tension and diabetics and that his physiological health was also affected.