San Antonio Spurs' player Tony Parker has pledged his long-term future to the French national team.

The international point guard, who created a stir at the start of the year when he announced he would miss Les Bleus' Euro 2005 qualifiers this September to dedicate himself to his NBA side, has insisted he 'loves' playing for France and that he is still committed to Les Bleus.

		“	People think that I refuse to play for France and that I don't care, but that is not true at all	„
		Tony Parker

“People think that I refuse to play for France and that I don't care, but that is not true at all,” Parker said in an interview with L'Equipe on Thursday.

“I love the French team and I love to play with my friends. But sometimes you are not the only one to decide.”

Parker, who also reveals that he is negotiating a new contract with San Antonio Spurs, insists he decided to skip France's qualifying campaign to help his NBA team but also to take a last rest from basketball before resuming both international and club action next year.

“Negotiations have started but Pop (the coach Gregg Popovich) is at the Olympics and we won't find an agreement before September,” added Parker whose contract with the Spurs ends in June 2005.

“I could wait for another year but I'd rather find an agreement to know where I stand and dedicate myself more to the French team.”

He added: “I have tried to please everyone. I made that choice (to snub France's qualifiers) to be able to play with them non-stop for the next four years, and to make sure that (national coach) Claude Bergeaud and the ones that will follow have no problems anymore.

		Tony Parker and Tim Duncan

“Since Tim (Duncan) and Manu (Ginobili) are going to the Olympics the club will need someone to lead the team when the league restarts.

“They will be both tired. It's been two years that they played with their national side and the Spurs would like me to be fit and fresh.

“In 2005 there will be the Eurobasket, then the world championships in 2006, and then in 2007 I will take part in the Eurobasket as the qualifier for the 2008 Olympics.

“I won't rest at all in the next four years.

“No one should be surprised when you see guys like (Zinedine) Zidane being on the verge of stopping their international career at the age of 32.”

Parker also believes that the French national team counts too much on him although they have great talents who can easily take over.

“The national team is not only made of me,” Parker added.

“We have a lot of very good players and good youngsters even if, unfortunately, many of them will not play the qualifiers.

		“	I will definitely be present for the national team in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008	„
		Tony Parker

“A team can't only be based on one player. When we became Junior world champions there was Boris (Diaw), Mike (Pietrus), Ronny (Turiaf) but also Vincent Mouillard or Guillaume Szaszczak.

“There was a leader but the team was strong all together.

“The French team is capable of booking their ticket to the Eurobasket 2005 without me. I trust them.”

Parker last year took part in France's Eurobasket 2003 campaign which saw them finish fourth and miss out on a place for the Athens Olympics.

“It’s a huge regret for me,” Parker said. “I would have loved to go to the Olympics.

“I am really eager to go to the Olympics as well as to the world championships.

“I will definitely be present for the national team in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008.”