Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen, whose country is currently holding the EU rotating presidency, said on Friday that Turkey's proposal to open one port to Cypriot ships was ''not enough.''

''What Turkey has said is not enough and of course the Union will make the decision how to continue the negotiation process with Turkey,'' he told reporters in Brussels during a video conference from Helsinki.

According to press reports, Vanhanen said he expected EU member states to agree next Monday to a partial suspension of entry talks, as proposed by the European Commission for Turkey's refusal to extend a customs union with the EU to Cyprus.
''The Commission proposal I believe is quite near the compromise,'' he said of the EU executive's proposal for slowing Turkish accession talks by suspending eight of 35 negotiation areas, or chapters.

Cyprus, which joined the EU in 2004, has been divided since 1974, when Turkey invaded and occupied its northern third.

Source: Athens News Agency

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