The UN Secretary-General's Undersecretary in charge of Political Affairs, Kieran Prendergast, who started his contacts in Cyprus on 30 May, yesterday (1 June) met with President Mehmet Ali Talat.

Speaking after the meeting, President Talat stated that he tried to explain the current situation to Mr. Prendergast.

Pointing out that during the meeting he had stressed the Turkish Cypriot side's desire for a settlement, President Talat said the Turkish Cypriot side wanted to settle this problem as soon as possible. Underlining the urgency of the problem, President Talat said the Turkish Cypriot side wanted to integrate with the world and the international community and that this unfavourable situation should not continue any longer. He said: "We want the UN to become involved in this issue and contribute in resolving it."

For his part, Prendergast said the UN Secretary-General had sent him to the region to listen to the two sides and better understand their positions and decide how they could contribute to the solution of the problem.

Continuing with its contacts in Ankara, the US Congressional Delegation who had visited the TRNC on 30-31 May, yesterday visited Turkey and met with the Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Speaking to the press after the meeting, the Head of the US Congressional Delegation, Congressman Ed Whitfield, said their visit to the TRNC was very exciting and "our visit was a symbolic gesture to highlight that the TRNC's isolation is unacceptable". He said upon their return to the USA, they would submit a proposal to the US Administration for ending the TRNC's isolation.