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EU: “no problem” with Russian Hamas invite

Updated: 15/Feb/2006 17:15

EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana

Photo: The Council of the European Union

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European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana has said he has “no problem” with Russia’s decision to invite leaders of Palestinian terrorist group Hamas to Moscow for talks.

Solana is in the Middle East this week on a trip designed to allay angers over the publication of the Mohammed cartoons in European newspapers which sparked riots off in Muslim communities around the world.

Russian president Vladimir Putin angered Israeli leaders last week by appearing to legitimise negotiations with Hamas, which surprisingly won a majority in the Palestinian Legislative council last month.

Speaking in Cairo on Tuesday, Solana said that Hamas must meet three criteria in order to make it an eligible negotiations partner for the EU: "peace, the acceptance of two states, and recognition of the other [Israel]."

But although Hamas has not accepted any of the conditions, Solana said he still did not have an issue with Putin’s decision to extend a hand to the political arm of the terrorist group.

French support

	Greek and Israeli presidents disagree
	France supports Russian invitation to Hamas
	Belgian ministry suspends aid projects to Palestinians
	Putin lays out Russian position on Hamas
	Quartet meet to discuss the future of aid to Hamas
	EU adopts a “wait-and-see” position towards Hamas

Though many international leaders have condemned Putin’s actions, French prime minister Dominique de Villepin has stressed his support for the initiative.

De Villepin was in Moscow on Tuesday for talks, where described the Russian invitation "an important historic event," even though Hamas is on the EU’s list of terrorist organizations.

De Villepin said: "I hope that at the meeting Hamas will be capable of calibrating its responsibility and of understanding the chance to advance along the road to recognition of the UN resolution on the coexistence of the Israeli and Palestinian states."

Although the French leader said that France disagrees with Russia as it considers Hamas to be a terrorist organization, he said he believed that the international community should "take into account the democratic option taken by the Palestinian people and try to accept as soon as possible the logic of peaceful dialogue with Hamas."

EU and Mideast must cooperate

My message here on behalf of the Europeans is one of profound respect for Islam

Javier Solana

Solana was due to visit Jordan on Wednesday for meetings with King Abdullah, and then end his trip in Israel and the Palestinian Authority controlled areas for talks with Israeli foreign minister Tzipi Livni and Palestinian president Mahmoud Abbas.

Solana’s trip began with a stop in Jeddah on Monday where he met with Dr Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu, secretary general of the Organisation of Islamic conference.

Speaking in Jeddah, Solana said the trip was “an important moment for both the European Union and the Organisation of Islamic conference and the people and countries we represent.”

Referring to the outcry in the Muslim world over the Muhammed cartoons, Solana added: “My message here on behalf of the Europeans is one of profound respect for Islam. I expressed our sincere regret that religious feelings have been hurt.”

“We must not allow the latest events to erode the solid relationships we have built up over so many years. We need each other, we have to work together an we have to respect each other.”

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