STRASBOURG, FRANCE, SEPT 15 (REUTER) - PARIS WILL REFUSE TO SIGN THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE'S CHARTER ON MINORITY AND REGIONAL LANGUAGES AS THERE IS ONLY ONE OFFICIAL LANGUAGE IN FRANCE, FRANCE'S AMBASSADOR TO THE COUNCIL SAID ON MONDAY.

"WE WILL NOT SIGN THE CHARTER ON REGIONAL AND MINORITY LANGUAGES, WHICH ALLOWS INDIVIDUALS TO USE THESE LANGUAGES IN THEIR COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE GOVERNMENT," AMBASSADOR JACQUES WARIN TOLD REPORTERS.

WARIN SAID THE FRENCH CONSTITUTION SPECIFIES THAT FRENCH IS THE SOL#E NATIONAL LANGUAGE.

NUMEROUS REGIONS OF FRANCE HAVE BATTLED PARIS OVER THE EMOTIONAL ISSUE OF THEIR RIGHT TO USE THEIR TRADITIONAL LANGUAGES, OR TO LEARN THEM IN THE SCHOOLS.

AMONG THESE ARE THE NORTHWESTERN REGION OF BRITTANY, ALSACE IN EASTERN FRANCE, THE BASQUE REGION ALONG FRANCE'S BORDER WITH SPAIN AND THE MEDITERRANEAN ISLAND OF CORSICA.

THE 40-MEMBER COUNCIL OF EUROPE WAS SET UP AFTER WORLD WAR TWO TO FOSTER DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS.

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