Hamas in Moscow: is Russia back to big time politics?

Ria Novosti ^ | 3 March 06 | Pyotr Romanov

[Romanov]

MOSCOW. (RIA Novosti political commentator Pyotr Romanov.) - Russian diplomacy has recently taken a number of extraordinary steps with difficult-to-predict consequences, such as an attempt to take the issue of Iran's nuclear program out of the blind alley and to invite to Moscow a delegation of Hamas, an organization which is blacklisted as terrorist in the United States and Western Europe, and which is responsible for hundreds of Israeli deaths.

The invitation to Hamas, made public by Putin during his official visit to Madrid, took everyone aback, including Russia's partners in the Middle East settlement. Having heard additional explanations from Moscow, the Quartet admitted that the Russian president's idea had a reason behind it. The results of the Palestinian elections will have to be eventually accepted, and hence it is necessary for someone to meet Hamas face to face in order to bring home to the new Palestinian government the Quartet's position on the Middle East.

[Romanov]

Russian political pundit ponders Putin's Palestine policies....

(Let's not turn this into a name calling kindergarten thread - this is a view from Russia, not necessarily endorsed by the poster)

[Romanov]

Ping

[x5452]

It seems to me that this is mostly Putin wanting to appear to be a savy problem solver and taking a gamble at being the first to the table, figuring that the other 3 in the quartet will back him up if things turn into a mess.

[Hill of Tara]

"political pundit ponders Putin's Palestine policies...."

LOL :)

Interesting article.

[Romanov]

If I were a "conspiracy theorist" type of guy, I'd actually start to wonder if he wasn't "pushed" into making that move. Putin can get away with it at home, Britain and the US cannot, and nobody else would want France to take up that role....

[x5452]

International goodcop bad cop?

[Thunder90]

PING

[GarySpFc]

Having heard additional explanations from Moscow, the Quartet admitted that the Russian president's idea had a reason behind it.

Even though the Quartet supported Russia behind the scenes, I don't see this as being successful.

[Kakaze]

" But for all these obvious pluses for Russia, its diplomacy steps on the shaky Mid-Eastern ground with its numerous surprises, never-ending intrigue and double-dealing, where words, either expressed verbally or in writing, are not always matched by deeds "

NO wonder they get along, apparently lying is something they can agree on.