EU president Finland launches a last-ditch drive this week to resolve a row between Turkey and Cyprus before a December deadline, but is warning it sees no speedy solution to the issue threatening Ankara's EU entry bid.
Confirmation that the Cypriot foreign minister would attend a regional forum in the Finnish city of Tampere starting on Monday, two days after saying the chances of progress were so slim he would not, offered a glimmer of hope for a breakthrough. But Finland's Foreign Minister Erkki Tuomioja said he did not see a quick solution to Turkey opening its ports to ships from Cyprus as required in its EU membership negotiations.
"I have to say I am not very optimistic we could find a solution soon which would open new possibilities and literally open harbours," he told Finnish public television on Saturday. Finland, holder of the rotating EU presidency, has led diplomatic efforts to resolve the dispute and wants a deal before a European Commission meeting on December 6th.
It plans separate meetings with Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul and Greek Cypriot George Lillikas on the sidelines of the gathering of European and Mediterranean ministers in Tampere.
Brussels has said it will recommend consequences if Turkey fails to open its ports in December, which could involve partial suspension of membership talks launched last year and EU Enlargement Commissioner Olli Rehn has previously warned of a "train crash" in Turkey's accession bid if no deal is reached.
Mr Tuomioja said he hoped there would not now be "a break" that would endanger Turkey's bid, but added: "It is clear, however, if we make no progress, we cannot go on as if nothing happened." The Greek Cypriot government of Cyprus has represented the divided island since it joined the EU in 2004 and now has EU veto powers over its old Turkish foe.