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 quick solution to the issue threatening Ankara's EU membership bid, Reuters reported. The Cyprus question could dominate a Europe-Mediterranean regional forum hosted by Finland from Monday, though efforts to find peace in the Middle East are also set to be prominent, boosted by a ceasefire between Israel and Palestinian militants which took hold in Gaza on Sunday. Spain is expected to outline a new Middle East peace initiative with France and Italy at a dinner with Arab and Israeli ministers on Monday night in the city of Tampere. Confirmation that the Cypriot foreign minister would attend the regional meeting -- just days after saying prospects of progress were so slim he would stay away -- offered a glimmer of hope for a breakthrough on efforts to end a stalemate over the Mediterranean island. 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 entry 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 Cyprus dispute and wants a deal before a European Commission meeting on Dec. 6. It plans separate meetings with Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul and Greek Cypriot George Lillikas on the sidelines of the Tampere meeting.
