DENVER, June 21: Russian President Boris Yeltsin grabbed centrestage at the Group of Seven (G-7) summit, but France said there was a consensus against giving Russia full membership, despite apparent backing from US President Bill Clinton.

With Yeltsin at his side, an effusive Clinton said yesterday before the summit started that ``Russia is fully included'' in this year's meeting. He called having Moscow as a partner ``quite a hopeful moment for the world''.

As a sign of Russia's new prominence, Yeltsin was given the honour of being the first speaker at a private dinner that started the summit with the leaders of the United States, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Canada and Britain.

But Japan and France expressed outspoken opposition to opening G-7's doors completely to Russia, whose market economy is still in its infancy.

Russia has been included in the entire Denver summit, except for the one-hour meeting devoted to economic matters.

``There is a consensus among the Group of Seven rich nations that they need to continue meeting without Russia to discuss economic and financial issues,'' said Catherine Colonna, a spokeswoman for French President Jacques Chirac. Japan said Russia was not yet ready to join G-7, with a spokesman for Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto declaring: ``It will probably take some time for full integration of Russia into the international financial system.''

Bosnia was scheduled to be the main topic of discussion at the dinner held in a red-brick Georgian-style Denver mansion.

A draft of the communique to be issued when the summit ends tomorrow so far has only one blank section -- that on Bosnia, according to a copy provided by one official who asked to remain anonymous. At a 40-minute private meeting with Clinton, Italian Prime Minister Romano Grodi said he feared violence could break out again if the Dayton peace accords ending the Bosnia war were not fully implemented.

The dinner of lobster soup and roasted lamb capped a whirlwind day for Yeltsin, who only a year ago was fighting for his life after a heart attack, with many wondering how long his rule could last. Yeltsin spent an hour in private session with Hashimoto.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.