Putin to invite Hamas to Moscow

[RJnAbbysNana]

Putin to invite Hamas to Moscow

ALJAZEERA.net
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.

cont..........

http://english.aljazeera.net/NR/exeres/88135314-19E1-422C-A77A-8B8E568CF193.htm

[rastaman]

1. Putin is such a rat

He squeals (rightly by the way) when europeans coddle the chechen rebel leaders. He complains when ABC interviews their leader. Now he he plans on hosting a terrorist group.
What a fraud he is. Quite frankly, because of his duplicity he endangers all of us. Putin cannot be trusted and we cant quite figure out whose side he is on.

[pelsar]

5. against the west...

its quite simple...like france..anything the US does or believes in, is good enough reason to do the opposite, irreguardless of the merits or lack there of

[Scurrilous]

2. Putin: Hamas not a terror group

Russian president tells press conference in Madrid he intends on inviting group leaders to Moscow in near future, adds Russia does not consider Hamas a terrorist organization; Hamas official says group would accept invitation

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3213707,00.html

<snip>

"Putin reiterated that Russia does not consider Hamas a terrorist organization, and urged the global community to work with a Hamas-led Palestinian government.

"Hamas has arrived at the doors of power through legitimate elections," Putin said. "We must respect the Palestinian people and we have to look for solutions for the Palestinian people, for the international community, and also for Israel. Contacts with Hamas must continue."

<snip>

"Hamas leadership ended its first visit to Egypt since the elections, which is part of a round of visits planned by the group in a number of Arab countries. The visit began Saturday and will also include Sudan, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

The visits to the Persian Gulf are also expected to be dedicated to presenting Hamas' stance and the policy to raise funds for a Palestinian government headed by Hamas, as well as an attempt to enlist these countries' support against the international front Israel is trying to form against a Hamas-led government."

[occuserpens]

3. More pointless maneuvering

Like with Iran

[Scurrilous]

4. France says backs Russia invitation of Hamas

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/681159.html

<snip>

"Dealing a new blow to Israel's effort to internationally isolate Hamas, France expressed support Friday for a Russian effort to reach out to the radical Islamic movement, but reiterated that the it must renounce violence and recognize Israel.

French Foreign Ministry spokesman Denis Simonneau said Russia did not consult its international partners about its initiative. But "we believe that it is an initiative that can contribute to advancing our positions," he added.

"We share with Russia the goal of leading Hamas toward positions that would allow for the goal of two states living in peace and security to be reached," he said."

<snip>

"Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov, who was attending a meeting of NATO defense ministers in Sicily on Friday, said that while Moscow is critical of Hamas' ideology just as other nations, it considers it practical to maintain contacts with the group.

"Hamas is in power, this is a fact," Ivanov said. "Sometime in the future, many leading states will start maintaining some contacts with Hamas."

[bemildred]

6. Dang. Condi won't like this at all.

Better have George look deep in his eyes again.
Actually, I would guess this is wise, in the sense of trying to keep peace in the Middle East.

[barb162]

7. U.S. says Russia assures it will demand change from Hamas

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/681159.html
Last update - 09:45 11/02/2006


U.S. says Russia assures it will demand change from Hamas

By Shmuel Rosner, Shlomo Shamir and Aluf Benn, Haaretz Correspondents, Haaretz Service and News Agencies

U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice won assurances from Russia on Friday that Moscow would send a firm message to Hamas that the militant group must change if it wants world support, the State Department said.



snip