French PM says referendum on Turkey joining EU 'when the matter comes up'

PARIS, Sept 28 (AFP) - French Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin said Tuesday he was in favour of a referendum on Turkey joining the European Union "when the matter comes up".
The comment, made at a meeting of parliamentary deputies of Raffarin's ruling Union for a Popular Movement (UMP) party, was an apparent bid to heal a rift between the party and President Jacques Chirac on the issue of EU membership for Turkey.
Chirac has said he favours membership once Turkey makes a series of economic and social reforms, but the UMP has declared its opposition, causing an embarrassing split.
On Monday, Economy Minister Nicolas Sarkozy -- widely tipped to become the head of the UMP later this year -- and Foreign Minister Michel Barnier said they wanted to see a referendum to resolve the issue.
Raffarin has avoided taking a clear stand. Last week, he told the Wall Street Journal Europe that he had doubts over Turkey's suitability, warning that Ankara might not yet be ready to accept Western values.
"We don't think we should tell Turkey that the doors of Europe are forever closed to it," Raffarin told the newspaper, but then said: "Do we want the river of Islam to enter the riverbed of secularism?"