President Vladimir Putin met Wednesday with the envoy of the so-called Quartet of Middle East peace mediators to discuss the tense situation in the region after last month`s surprise victory of militant group Hamas in Palestinian elections.
Envoy James Wolfensohn, former president of the World Bank, said he had come to Moscow to seek advice as well as to inform the Russian leadership of his work.
"I am here both to report to you and get your guidance," he said. Russia currently holds the chairmanship of the Group of Eight industrialized nations.
Putin told Wolfensohn he was "very glad to have an opportunity to talk about the situation currently developing in the region."
Russia is one of four Quartet members, along with the United Nations, the European Union and the United States.
The Hamas victory has prompted threats from the United States and the EU to cut off aid to the Palestinians unless the group recognizes Israel and renounces violence.
Russia, with backing from France, has broken the united Western front on Hamas, and Putin invited its leaders to Moscow for talks this month.
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Wednesday called Russia`s invitation to Hamas a realistic way to foster future peacemaking, and said Moscow agreed that Hamas must commit to seeking peace with Israel to win international acceptance.
"We will work toward Hamas accepting the Quartet`s positions. This is not just the Quartet`s opinion, but also that of the majority of nations, including Arab nations," he said after talks with EU leaders in Vienna.
"But this will take time. It is not easy. Unless we engage Hamas, which gained power as result of legitimate, free and fair elections, nothing will change."
sections: Politics, World News, Region News
regions: Central region |
Russian News
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