HELSINKI, Finland — With a nudge from the United States, Turkey early today put economic promise ahead of national pride by accepting an invitation to European Union membership that might ultimately scuttle its disputed claims to Cyprus and several Aegean islands.
At first, Turkish officials balked at the terms set out by the rich Western alliance for the membership it sought 13 years ago, with one diplomat saying the attached conditions meant "selling out Cyprus."
But rejection of the offer would have isolated Turkey and its 65 million people from the European common market for years and likely would have weakened those in the government fighting for human rights improvements and better relations with neighboring countries.
In addition to winning over Turkey for a march toward membership that is expected to last more than a decade, the EU leaders invited six other states to begin negotiations early next year to eventually join their ranks: Romania, Bulgaria, Slovakia, Latvia, Lithuania and Malta. At a summit here, the EU leaders also endorsed a plan to set up by 2003 a European rapid-reaction force of up to 60,000 troops.
After Turkey signaled its dismay over the conditions of its EU candidacy, the bloc's newly appointed high commissioner for foreign affairs and security, Javier Solana, flew to Turkey to rescue what the EU leaders here had expected to be the crowning achievement of the summit: An overture to Turkey--with its predominantly Islamic population--that would enhance the union's image as a multicultural alliance embracing diversity as well as economic virtues.
Amid the diplomatic scurrying, President Clinton called Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit to congratulate Turkey on securing EU candidacy--a move clearly aimed at encouraging Ankara to accept.
After two hours of soothing over ruffled diplomatic feathers, a beaming Solana emerged from his talks with Ecevit in Ankara, the Turkish capital, to proclaim: "We have a 'Yes.' "
What had most upset Turkey was a provision in the draft declaration of the summit, which continues today, that the EU review any outstanding territorial disputes within five years and "promote their settlement" through the International Court of Justice in The Hague.
The wording could be interpreted to mean Turkey would have to refer the disputes to the court by the end of 2004 if they are not resolved by then through discussions with Greece. The court, under U.N. auspices, would be likely to award control of Cyprus to Greece because Turkey's seizure of the northern part of the island nation in 1974 has never been recognized as a legitimate right to sovereignty.
