Russia will call on Hamas, the militant Palestinian group that swept parliamentary elections there last month, to renounce violence and recognize Israel's right to exist, a high-level official said on Friday.

 

"We will suggest that Hamas change its position at a meeting with representatives from the group," Alexander Kalugin, the foreign minister's Middle East envoy, was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying.

 

"We will help promote the principles agreed upon by the Quartet of international mediators ... We want them to respect all previous agreements in order to prevent terrorist attacks," Kalugin said, adding it is also necessary "to embark on the road toward recognition of Israel's right to exist," Kalugin said.

 

Kalugin's remarks came a day after President Vladimir Putin said in Madrid, where he was on a state visit to Spain, that he would invite Hamas leaders to Moscow for talks.

 

Such a meeting in Moscow "could take place before the Palestinian government is formed," Kalugin said.

 

Russia is a member of the quartet mediating for peace in the Middle East, which also includes the United Nations, the United States and the European Union.

 

(Xinhua News Agency February 11, 2006)