Turkey warms to EU defence force

ISTANBUL, Turkey -- Turkey has indicated it is ready to drop its objection to the creation of a new European Union defence force that would use NATO's military facilities.

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell is expected to discuss the new force with Turkish leaders when he visits the country on Tuesday.

The Turkish Government said in a written statement on Sunday that months of talks between Turkey, NATO and the EU had resulted in "a concrete basis ... that will allow co-operation between NATO and the EU to move forward in every area.

"Turkey, as a NATO member and a candidate to join the EU, supports the process" of developing a European defence force, the statement said.

Turkey had been blocking the EU plan to set up a 60,000-strong rapid reaction force, saying it wanted a say in any possible missions near its borders.

Turkey also has said it fears that the force may be used against it in conflicts with EU member Greece -- also a NATO member -- over Cyprus and any territorial disputes in the Aegean Sea.

EU officials said the force would not get involved in those matters.

Hurriyet newspaper reported on Monday that British Prime Minister Tony Blair sent a letter to Turkish Prime Minister Bulent Ecevit in which he promised a say in missions of concern to Ankara and assured Turkish leaders that the force would not side with Greece.

British Embassy officials could not immediately confirm the report.

EU officials have in the past warned that the deadlock could harm Turkey's aspirations to join the 15-member group.

The EU has said it will activate the force at a summit in Belgium later this month, and hopes to have it ready for use in peacekeeping or humanitarian crises in which NATO does not wish to be involved by 2003.