ROME, May 27 (Xinhuanet) -- Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi reiterated Italy's support for the European constitution on Friday and urged French voters to approve it in this weekend referendum.

    Speaking during a joint press conference with his British counterpart Tony Blair, who has promised a UK referendum regardless of Sunday's results, he added it was not Italy's place to interfere.

    "This is a question for the French to decide," he said, "but wewant the French to vote 'yes' as this will take us towards a Europe that is closer and stronger."

    Italy is one of the 10 countries that have already ratified theconstitutional treaty. The others are Austria, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Lithuania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Belgium and Spain.

    A tentative date for the British referendum has been set for April-June 2006 although many believe the plan would flounder in the wake of a French no vote.

    The deadline for ratification by all member states is the end of October 2006, two years after the constitutional treaty was signed in Rome. Enditem