|
Putin invites Hamas leaders to Moscow
(AP)
Updated: 2006-02-10 08:50
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday invited leaders of Hamas to
Moscow, saying his country — unlike most of the West — does not see the
Palestianian group as a terrorist organization.
Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said in Gaza group members would be "delighted"
to visit Russia if officially invited. Israel reacted coolly.
Hamas' surprise Jan. 25 election victory sent shock waves around the world.
The group's founding manifesto calls for the destruction of Israel, and it has
refused to move away from that position since the election.
Alexander Kalugin, Russia's special envoy for the Middle East, said in Moscow
that Russia would use the meeting to ask the militant group to recognize
Israel's right to exist.
Putin, ending a two-day visit to Spain. urged the world not to turn its back
on Hamas.
"Hamas came to power ... as a result of democratic, legitimate elections and
we must respect the choice of the Palestinian people," he told a press
conference. "We have to look for solutions for the Palestinian people, for the
international community, and also for Israel."
Russia's President Vladimir Putin (L) and
Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero shake hands after
their joint news conference at Moncloa Palace in Madrid February 9,
2006.[Reuters] | Israeli Foreign Ministry
spokesman Mark Regev said a dialogue with Hamas can be established only if it
abandons terrorism and recognizes Israel.
Although Hamas has claimed responsibility for violent attacks including
suicide bombings in Israel, Putin refused to label it a terrorist organization.
"We have never considered Hamas a terrorist organization," he said.
"Having maintained our contacts with the organization Hamas we intend to
invite their leaders to Moscow in the near future to search for solutions," he
said. He did not say when talks might be held.
Alexander Kalugin, Russia's Middle East envoy, said any meeting in Moscow
would be in line with agreements of the so-called Quartet trying to negotiate a
Middle East peace — the United States, Russia, the European Union and the United
Nations.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Mikhail Kamynin made the overtures to
Hamas to prevent "a serious deterioration" of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict
and to keep the path open for mediation.
Moscow intended to deliver a strong and clear message to the Hamas leadership
from the international community of the need to take "responsible decisions that
are in the interests of the entire Palestinian people," he said in a statement
from Moscow.
Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, speaking at the news
conference with Putin, said Madrid would support Russia's peace initiatives.
Zapatero also said Russia must play a decisive role in finding an answer to
the international community's standoff with Iran over Tehran's nuclear
ambitions.
"The role of the Russian federation, of President Putin, is going to be
decisive to all that affects the dialogue and the peace prospects in the Middle
East following the Palestinian elections, as well as the current situation in
Iran," Zapatero said.
Both leaders also appealed for an end to the violence that has swept the
Muslim world over European newspapers' decision to publish caricatures depicting
the Prophet Muhammad.
|
