Mishaal-Lavrov meeting focuses on Palestinian reconciliation

PIC


[ 08/02/2010 - 07:33 PM ]

MOSCOW, (PIC)-- Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov discussed Palestinian reconciliation efforts with a visiting delegation of the Hamas Movement led by its supreme leader Khaled Mishaal on Monday.

Hamas's representative in Lebanon and a member of the delegation Osama Hamdan said that Hamas hopes that contacts with Moscow over inter-Palestinian reconciliation would continue.

He added in statements published by Russia Today website that his Movement hopes that new solutions for the major issues in the Middle East would be tabled.

Hamdan noted that Lavrov promised during the meeting that Moscow would support Palestinian reconciliation efforts, describing this position as "very important".

The Hamas leader said that Mahmoud Abbas's term in office had expired according to the Palestinian basic law, adding that presidential elections would be held after the reconciliation.

Mishaal's visit to Moscow is the third since Hamas won Palestinian legislative elections in 2006 and is expected to meet with other Russian officials during his visit.

In Nablus in the West Bank, however, Dr. Abdul Sattar Qassem, a professor of political science at Najah University, said that the Palestinian reconciliation was not close.

He told the PIC on Monday that security coordination between the PA in Ramallah and Israel would foil any possible reconciliation, adding that it should be completely stopped in order for the reconciliation to succeed.

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