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The most powerful motivation for making changes has always been Turkey's desire to join the European Union. But public support for joining is now waning, down from a high of 85 percent to 65 percent recently. In part, that reflects a lingering bitterness over 11th-hour issues that tainted the start of Turkey's membership talks.

The European Union repeatedly stressed to Turkey the political need to reunify Cyprus, but then failed to deliver the support of Greek Cypriots, who voted against reunification after Turkish Cypriots had voted in favor. Austria tried to block the talks, France promised its citizens that they would ultimately have the chance to veto Turkey's membership, and prominent Germans nattered on about a "privileged partnership" for Turkey, rather than full membership.

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Turkey's prime minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, must convince his people not to give up on the reforms that precede union membership. And Washington and Brussels need to help him make the case. The United States should remind Turkey's generals, traditionally friendly with Washington, that continued support of liberalizing reforms will help usher Turkey into the 21st century. Washington and Brussels should also renew pressure on the Greek Cypriots for reunification and reward Turkish Cypriots, economically and politically, for their efforts.

Such a Western initiative on Cyprus could take the sting out of a coming vote in the Turkish Parliament to expand Turkey's trade treaty with Europe to the union's 10 newest members, including Cyprus.