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Russia Pledges to Help Hamas Secure Political, Economic Support
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=166D4EC:A6F02AD83191E160106E97E55F0A9AF79574F7DCC14957C0 Foreign Minister
Sergei Lavrov says Moscow supports Palestinian power-sharing agreement
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 Meshaal, left, shake
hands prior to talks in Moscow, 27 Feb. 2007Russian 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.


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