Russian Envoy Meets Hamas Leader In Syria
MOSCOW - A Russian envoy met Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal in Syria, emphasizing the need for a diplomatic solution to the Palestinian militant group's conflict with Israel, the Foreign Ministry said Wednesday.
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In a rare meeting between the exiled Meshaal and a representative of the quartet of international powers on the Middle East, the Hamas leader expressed readiness to take part in such a solution, a statement said.
"The Russian envoy Alexander Saltanov met the head of the Hamas politburo Khaled Meshaal in Damascus. In the talks, the Russian side emphasized the need for a political-diplomatic solution.
"Khaled Meshaal expressed his readiness to take part in such a solution to the conflict. But he added that the imposition of capitulatory conditions by Israel were unacceptable."
"Saltanov called on the leadership of Hamas to behave responsibly towards the fate of the people in the Gaza Strip and take constructive decisions," the statement said.
In a separate meeting with Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Moallem, the Russian envoy called for a "swift resolution to the crisis, which would put an end to the suffering of the civilian population," the Foreign Ministry said.
Along with the European Union, U.N. and U.S., Russia is a member of the international quartet seeking peace in the Middle East.
Moscow has close ties with Arab states and its officials have even met with representatives of Hamas, in contrast to Western governments which refuse to deal with it, calling it a terrorist group.
The meeting came as Israel continued pounding the Islamist-ruled coastal enclave Wednesday as tanks and ground troops engaged in battles with Hamas militants on the outskirts of Gaza City.
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