Russian President Vladimir Putin told reporters in Madrid on Thursday that he would invite leaders of the Palestinian militant group Hamas to Moscow for talks even if they refuse to recognize Israel's right to exist.
'Maintaining our contacts with Hamas, we are ready in the near future to invite the Hamas authorities to Moscow to hold talks,' Putin told reporters during a press conference in the Spanish capital where he is staying during a visit.
The U.S. State Department views Hamas as a terrorist organization and President Bush has announced that the United States would not give financial aid or recognition to Hamas unless the group renounced violence and recognized Israel's right to exist. Presently, Hamas is working towards the destruction of Israel.
Hamas official Ismail Haniyeh told Reuters that Hamas leaders 'would be delighted' to meet with Putin in Moscow if they were given a formal invitation.
Putin told reporters, 'We haven't considered Hamas a terrorist organization. Today we must recognize that Hamas has reached power in Palestine as a result of legitimate elections and we must respect the choice of the Palestinian people.'
On January 30, Russia had joined with the other three members of the Quartet in calling for Hamas to renounce violence and recognize Israel or lose international aide. Aide to the Palestinian Authority has been jeopardized since Hamas won a landslide election over the Fatah Party which has held leadership over the Palestinian Authority since its founding and the PLO prior to that.
Alexander Kalugin, Russia's special Middle East envoy, said Putin's comments were designed to bring Hamas 'up to international requirements' and encourage them to enter into a dialogue with Israel.
Kalugin told the RIA news agency, 'We will insist that Hamas recognize the right of Israel to exist. Without this it would be difficult to arrange any dialogue.'
President Bush has not issued any formal statements as of yet with regard to Mr. Putin's invitation to Hamas.
