UPDATE 1-Czech c.bank chief says euro in 2010 not realistic

(Adds quotes, details, crown rate)

PRAGUE, Sept 19 (Reuters) - It is not realistic to expect the Czech Republic will adopt the euro in 2010, central bank (CNB) chief Zdenek Tuma said on Tuesday, joining a growing chorus of sceptics burying the target date set by the country's previous leftist cabinet.

The comment was in line with remarks in the past days by the new right-wing minority government that entry would likely be delayed.

"Not much has been done in the area of public finance reform and the labour market, so the outlook for euro adoption in 2010 really does not look realistic," Tuma told reporters.

Prime Minister Mirek Topolanek, speaking at a joint news conference with Tuma, said the ambition to join the euro remained but he would not dare to set an entry date.

Topolanek also said it was unrealistic to join the pre-euro ERM-2 exchange rate mechanism next year, which would be required for the country to meet conditions to join the euro area from the beginning of 2010.

"When saying 2010 (entry date) is hardly achievable ... then ERM-2 entry in 2007 is not realistic," he said.

The main reason why the Czech timetable for euro adoption is slipping is a widening fiscal gap, forecast by the Finance Ministry at 4.6 percent of gross domestic product next year.

That is way above the 3.3 percent cap set in the country's euro convergence programme and above the 3 percent limit for euro zone entry.

The crown currency showed little reaction to the comments, trading at 28.475 to the euro <EURCZK=> from 28.485 earlier.

Euro entry targets have been slipping for most ex-Communist new EU members due to high budget deficits and inflation in the relatively poor but fast-growing region. ((Reporting by Marek Petrus, writing by Jan Lopatka, editing by Editing by Stephen Nisbet ; prague.newsroom@reuters.com; Reuters Messaging: jan.lopatka.reuters.com@reuters.net; +420-224 190 474))

Keywords: ECONOMY CZECH EURO