Putin to invite Hamas to Moscow

Thursday 09 February 2006, 20:12 Makka Time, 17:12 GMT

The Russian president has said that he intends to invite the leaders of Hamas to Moscow.

Hamas defeated the mainstream Fatah movement in a surprise landslide victory in Palestinian polls on 25 January. It is expected to form a new government soon.

Vladimir Putin made the invitation while in the Spanish capital, Madrid.

"We are maintaining our contacts with Hamas and intend, in the near future, to invite the leadership of this organisation to Moscow," he said.

The United States and the European Union have called on the resistance group to renounce violence and disarm its fighters. Hamas, considered a terrorist organisation by the US, does not recognise Israel.

Political relations

Putin went on to say that he did not believe in burning bridges. "We have never called Hamas a terrorist organisation," he said.

"We have never called Hamas a terrorist organisation"

Vladimir Putin,
Russian president
"It has to be recognised that Hamas came to power in the Palestine autonomy through a democratic and legitimate election and one should respect the choice of the Palestinian people.

"But ... we must also seek steps that would be acceptable both for the political forces leading the Palestinian autonomy, for the international community and for Israel.

"We are deeply convinced that burning bridges, especially in politics, is the easiest thing to do but it has little future."

Response

Ismail Haniya, a senior Hamas official, told reporters after Putin made his comments: "If we receive an official invitation to visit Russia, we will visit Russia."

Mark Regev, the Israeli foreign ministry spokesman, said Israel would not negotiate with Hamas until it "recognises Israel's right to exist, renounces terror and accepts the Middle East peace process".

An Israeli government source said: "People in Jerusalem are raising an eyebrow - what's going on here?"

Condoleezza Rice, the US secretary of stat

Source: al Jazeera

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