FRENCH-RUSSIAN TALKS.

French foreign minister Hubert Vedrine completed a two-day official visit to Russia on September 8. During a meeting with his Russian counterpart, Yevgeny Primakov, the two discussed bilateral ties, the Middle East peace process, Bosnia, and Karabakh. In Paris on September 8 it was announced that French president Jacques Chirac will visit Russia from September 25-27. It will be Chirac’s second trip to Russia this year. French prime minister Lionel Jospin is to visit Russia at the end of October. (Russian agencies, Xinhua, September 8)

Primakov Restates Moscow’s Stand on NATO.