EP's Swoboda criticizes Germany's Merkel

Hannes Swoboda, the vice chair of the European Parliament's second-biggest group, the Socialists, and former Turkey EP rapporteur, yesterday criticized the attitude of German Chancellor Angela Merkel towards Turkey's prospective European Union membership. Stating that everything had changed except Merkel, he added, "Policies and politicians left over from World War II will get us nowhere." Swoboda said the negotiation process with Turkey is stalled and also criticized Greek Cyprus blocking negotiations with Turkey on certain chapters.