” “"The EU presidency on duty does not intend to raise the Turkish question during the December summit. Decisions will have to be taken before" the date of the meeting between the heads of state and government. Matti Vanhanen, the Finnish prime minister at the helm of the Council for these six months, speaks of the problem of Turkish-Cypriot relationships and invites to negotiate a solution in the run-up to the European Council planned for 14th and 15th December in the Belgian capital. In addition, Vanhanen mentions the recent recommendations put forward by Barroso’s Commission to Erdogan’s government, to go on with the required reforms, so as to bring Ankara and the EU closer to each other. "Instead, the Council will have to address other priority issues, including the future of the EU extension". In the meantime, the presidency is preparing the EU-Russia summit of November 24th in Helsinki. The Russian president Vladimir Putin will meet Vanhanen, the head of the executive, José Manuel Barroso, and the High representative for Foreign policy, Javier Solana. (to be continued)” “
