Finn PM expects Turkey talks to go on, but limited

HELSINKI, Dec 8 (Reuters) Finnish Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen said today he expected European Union accession negotiations with Turkey to go on but in a limited way.

''Negotiations will be continued in a limited way,'' Vanhanen, whose country holds the rotating EU presidency, told reporters.

''Turkey cannot become a member before all of the criteria have been fulfilled.'' He added: ''Turkey is not to fulfil the Ankara protocol (on EU customs union) this year, the basic problem remains unsolved.'' Turkey offered yesterday to open a major port to traffic from Cyprus in a step towards meeting a treaty obligation to normalise trade with all EU member states, but there was confusion on whether it came with strings attached.

Cyprus, which has an EU veto, has rejected the Turkish offer, saying it comes with unacceptable conditions.

The European Commission has suggested slowing Turkish accession talks by suspending eight of 35 negotiation areas, or chapters.

EU ambassadors were discussing the offer yesterday after inconclusive discussions yesterday. EU foreign ministers will meet on Monday in Brussels, but the decision is expected to be taken by the bloc's leaders, who meet later next week.

Reuters AB DB1843