Russia will call on Hamas, the militant Palestinian group that
swept parliamentary elections there last month, to renounce
violence and recognize Israel's right to exist, a high-level
official said on Friday.
"We will suggest that Hamas change its position at a meeting
with representatives from the group," Alexander Kalugin, the
foreign minister's Middle East envoy, was quoted by the Interfax
news agency as saying.
"We will help promote the principles agreed upon by the Quartet
of international mediators ... We want them to respect all previous
agreements in order to prevent terrorist attacks," Kalugin said,
adding it is also necessary "to embark on the road toward
recognition of Israel's right to exist," Kalugin said.
Kalugin's remarks came a day after President Vladimir Putin said
in Madrid, where he was on a state visit to Spain, that he would
invite Hamas leaders to Moscow for talks.
Such a meeting in Moscow "could take place before the
Palestinian government is formed," Kalugin said.
Russia is a member of the quartet mediating for peace in the
Middle East, which also includes the United Nations, the United
States and the European Union.
(Xinhua News Agency February 11, 2006)
