Russian President Boris Yeltsin

The statement said the talks, which focused on the situation concerning the Yugoslav republic of Serbia's Kosovo and Metohija (Kosmet) province, were held at the initiative of the French side.

Yeltsin asked Chirac to use his authority and the influence of France in this issue.

Chirac said Paris placed extremely great importance on the meeting of foreign ministers Igor Ivanov of Russia and Madeleine Albright of the United States in Oslo on Tuesday, the statement said.

The two presidents also touched on the matter of the place and role if the United Nations in settling the Kosmet issue, the statement said.