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Hamas expecting no conditions on talks in Moscow
(AP)
Updated: 2006-02-12 15:58
Hamas leaders said they don't expect Russia to impose conditions for their
trip to Moscow this month for talks, while Israel's foreign minister cautioned
the international community on Sunday against going down the "slippery slope" of
legitimizing the violent Islamic group.
Russian President Vladimir Putin extended the invitation to Hamas last week,
following its sweeping victory in Palestinian elections last month. The
invitation, later supported by France, infuriated Israel, which fears the
international resolve to shun the militant group is weakening.
Hamas leader Ismail
Haniyeh (C) waves as he arrives from Egypt to Gaza Strip February 9, 2006.
[Reuters] |
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The militant group, which remains committed to Israel's destruction and has
been branded a terrorist organization in the US and Europe, is to form a new
Palestinian government in the coming weeks.
Sami Abu Zuhri, a Hamas spokesman in Gaza, said Russia and Hamas would engage
in a dialogue during the militant group's visit.
"We are going to present our positions ... about the political developments
and issues related to the rights of our people," Abu Zuhri said on Saturday.
"Russia will listen to Hamas and Hamas will listen to Russia."
Although an official date for the visit hasn't been set, Abu Zuhri said he
expects it to take place in the second half of February.
Putin's position runs counter to the stand recently taken by the so-called
Quartet of Mideast peace negotiators, comprising Russia, the US, the European
Union and the U.N. The Quartet, which backs the "road map" peace plan, has
called on Hamas to renounce violence and recognize Israel, and has threatened to
withhold hundreds of millions of dollars in desperately aided need to the
Palestinian Authority once Hamas takes power.
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