[MEP and leader of the Socialists in the European Parliament, Martin Schulz] described Christofias as a “friend” and “a man who deserves trust and support”. On the Turkish Cypriot leader, he said: “I think Mr Eroglu has the problem all leaders of the Turkish Cypriot community have. He is on the one hand the leader of a community, on the other hand he has to deal with the government in Ankara and I think the relations between the Turkish government and them are not in the best shape.”
EU socialists discuss direct trade Published on May 7, 2011 - See full article below if link failsMEP AND leader of the Socialists in the European Parliament, Martin Schulz, yesterday visited Cyprus, where he discussed “from early morning to late evening” the direct trade regulation pending in Brussels.
“I think the legal basis is highly controversial,” he said, noting that the opinions of the Legal Services of the European Council and Parliament were in line with those of the Cyprus Republic, while the Commission had a different view.
Schulz said he spoke to both President Demetris Christofias and Turkish Cypriot leader Dervis Eroglu about the issue, noting “I think sooner or later we must come to a conclusion, a legal conclusion”.
He described Christofias as a “friend” and “a man who deserves trust and support”.
On the Turkish Cypriot leader, he said: “I think Mr Eroglu has the problem all leaders of the Turkish Cypriot community have. He is on the one hand the leader of a community, on the other hand he has to deal with the government in Ankara and I think the relations between the Turkish government and them are not in the best shape.”
Schulz also visited occupied Famagusta during his trip for the first time to look at implementation of EU plans for the town.
