Gunther Verheugen met TRNC President Denktash.

Holding banners in English and Turkish, a group from National Community Movement staged protest in front of Presidency against ongoing embargo.
Verheugen is on a two-day visit to gain support for an EU goodwill package of 12 million euros and a series of measures to lift trade restrictions on Denktash’s breakaway self-styled Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) as part of efforts to end Cyprus’s division before it joins the EU in May next year. Denktash is opposed to any EU aid package, or export trade deal, for his self-styled statelet if it needs the authorization of the internationally-recognized Greek Cypriot government.