PARIS, Oct. 10 (Xinhuanet) -- France reserves the right to veto Turkey's entry into the European Union at any moment, President Jacques Chirac told state television France 2 Sunday in an interview conducted in Beijing, China where he is on a five-day state visit.

    The French parliament would be consulted on the issue of Turkey's membership, said Chirac, underlining that in negotiations with Ankara "at any moment France can withdraw, can apply a veto, or can refuse".

    "At that moment, the negotiations end. We are thus totally free," said Chirac, who has previously stated he personally favors Turkey eventually joining the European bloc.

    "In any case, it is the French people who have the last saying through the way of referendum... And it is an affair that would not be discussed before 10 or 15 years at earliest," he added.

    When asked whether there would be a debate over this issue within the French parliament before the European summit on December 17, the president answered that the French deputies will certainly be consulted and heard.

    French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin has announced Saturday that the French government is in favor of launching a parliamentary debate over Turkey's entry into the Union. Enditem