In a joint statement, they said the relocation of hundreds of thousands of refugees from Yugoslavia's poorer neighbours to better-off countries would not help the refugees.

Instead, the statement said, it would help what was called President Milosevic's policy of ethnic cleansing.

Mr Védrine also met the Bulgarian president, Peter Stoyanov.

Mr Stoyanov said Bulgaria had to fulfil its duty and accept those refugees who had been expelled from their homeland.

He said he welcomed the decision of the government not to turn back refugees who wanted to seek shelter in Bulgaria.