Russian FM Cancels Meeting with Hamas
Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov finished his Middle East tour on Wednesday, canceling a meeting with Hamas leaders, pressed by the United States and the European Union. However, Moscow still believes that the world will face tough challenges if the Palestinian group remains in isolation.
“We condemn any attempts to undermine Palestinians’ state system that we would like to set up as soon as possible,” Sergey Lavrov said in Ramallah after talks with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas on Wednesday. “Russia upholds actions taken by Palestinian head Mahmoud Abbas to ensure law and order.”
Moscow still prefers not to side with the Fatah, saying that as a Middle East negotiator it will give its utmost support to “restore unity of Palestinians.” The Russian foreign policy chief also said that Moscow would take part in international efforts to provide humanitarian aid to Palestinians, “primarily to those in trouble in the Gaza Strip.”
The Gaza Strip, a home for 1.5 million Palestinians, has been under control of Hamas for two weeks, which prompted Mahmoud Abbas to dismiss a unity government led by the Islamic group. Mr. Abbas appointed an emergency government in Ramallah, securing the support of Israel and the United States.
Moscow is apparently afraid to lose its top negotiating role in the Middle East talks as the international community keeps Hamas in isolation. The Kremlin, meanwhile, has been proud of its influence on Hamas, inviting its leaders to Moscow. The Islamists, however, did not listen to Russia and carried on with terrorist attacks and threats to Israel.
Russia still insists that progress in the Middle East settlement is possible only with the participation of both Hamas and Fatah. The United States, the EU, Israel and Mahmoud Abbas personally asked Sergey Lavrov to change his plans and cancel a meeting with Hamas leaders.
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All the Article in Russian as of June 28, 2007
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