Sergei Lavrov and Hamas supreme leader Khaled Meshaal, left, shake hands prior to talks in Moscow, 27 Feb. 2007
Posted on 03/01/2007 7:20:53 AM PST by standingfirm
Russia says it supports the lifting of political and economic sanctions imposed on the Islamic militant group Hamas over its refusal to recognize Israel's right to exist. The offer of support came during a final day of talks in Moscow with the exiled political leader of Hamas, Khaled Meshaal. VOA's Lisa McAdams is in the Russian capital with details.
Sergei Lavrov and Hamas supreme leader Khaled Mashaal, left, shake hands prior to talks in Moscow, 27 Feb. 2007 Sergei Lavrov and Hamas supreme leader Khaled Meshaal, left, shake hands prior to talks in Moscow, 27 Feb. 2007 Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says Moscow supports the Palestinian power-sharing agreement that has been reached between Hamas and the rival Fatah party because he said it shows wisdom, reason and responsibility. Lavrov told Meshaal during their talks in Moscow Tuesday that he could count on Russia's continued support.
Lavrov said Russia would be pushing the other members of the so-called Middle East Quartet, the United States, European Union and United Nations to support the power-sharing process agreed to during crisis talks in Mecca earlier this month. Lavrov said support from the Quartet should include the lifting of international sanctions, imposed after Hamas won last year's Palestinian election.
The other members of the Quartet have demanded that any new Palestinian government recognize Israel's right to exist, before the sanctions can be lifted - a condition Hamas continues to resist. The Quartet also wants Hamas to renounce violence and agree to adhere to past peace agreements.
For his part, Meshaal thanked Russia for taking what he called the brave step in hosting a meeting with a Hamas leader. Russia last hosted a Hamas delegation in 2006, a move that was sharply criticized by Israel.
Meshaal also thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for his recent speech in Munich, during which he criticized the United States for making what he called unilateral foreign policy moves. The speech sparked a good deal of comment in the days that followed and was widely viewed as part of a long-standing effort by Russia to raise its status in world affairs like the Middle East.
Tuesday's talks secure Russia's place in the spotlight - as the sole supporter of Hamas - heading into the next round of talks scheduled by the Quartet for March 13.
Sergei Lavrov and Hamas supreme leader Khaled Meshaal, left, shake hands prior to talks in Moscow, 27 Feb. 2007
I wish our leaders would stop referring to Russia as our friend and ally. Russia is neither.
You would think after Beslan and the Chechen wolves, they would have a great disgust for these type of people.
Not hard to see why The Scripture comes down on Russia: (Ezekiel 38:2)
I see them forming up to one day soon strike the US.
You would think after Beslan and the Chechen wolves, they would have a great disgust for these type of people.
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I think a rather significant number of people in Russia with access to the outside world do not favor Putin's policies, but ordinary people who don't have such access live under censorship and other dictatorial policies. Contrary to the mainstrean media's classification of Russia as a "democracy" or a "republic," it is still a dictatorship under Putin. I doubt many ordinary citizens are even aware of their leaders' dealings with terrorists. Sadly, these citizens are more in the majority. And the government has done its best to crack down on internet access and other forms of outside communication...to keep the people in the dark.
My problem is not with the Russian people, but rather Russia's government.
George, Pooty is not your friend!
This money is purely for peaceful purposes, just like the missiles and enriched uranium Russia is selling the ayatollahs.
Agreed.
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