Speaking to reporters at the plenary of the European Parliament in Strasbourg on Tuesday 24 March 2009, the President of the Socialist group at the EP, Martin Schulz, repeated his views about the Czech Presidency of the Council, that he described recently in the media as the 'worst Presidency he has ever known'. 'The Czech Presidency has not fulfilled its role as a coordinator' in the first three months of office, he said, adding that it did 'not take on board its role as mediator' in the gas dispute between Ukraine and Russia in January. Martin Schulz slammed the Czech Presidency for 'taking sides' in the Israeli-Palestinian crisis in Gaza in January, and criticised the attitude of Czech prime minister Mirek Topolánek, accusing him of 'not coming to answer institutional questions' in a debate proposed by the Parliament. 'I am not sure that the Czech Presidency is up to the job. I have rarely seen such a pathetic presidency. But Mr Topolánek is not the only one responsible for this. He is not in an easy situation with a President of the Czech Republic [Vaklav Klaus, Ed] who goes against all his decisions', explained Schulz. (E.H. trans fl)