Olmert: Russia-Hamas talks harm effort to isolate group
(AP)
Updated: 2006-03-07 08:50

Russia's talks with Hamas leaders in Moscow have harmed world efforts to isolate the militant group that is setting up a new Palestinian government, Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert told Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday.

Olmert said it was a "mistake" to invite Hamas leaders for talks before the group changes its policies and accepts the basic international demands of recognition of Israel and renunciation of violence.

Despite Israel's objections to the invitation, Hamas leaders were in Moscow over the weekend for talks. They met the Russian foreign minister, but Putin did not agree to see them.

According to a statement from Olmert's office, the two leaders talked on the telephone for 40 minutes. Putin called to fill Olmert in on the talks, the statement said.

Putin said Russia's policy is to negotiate with all side and press demands. He said negotiations are always held when the other side has difficult and dangerous positions.

The statement said Olmert disagreed strongly. "Russian contacts with Hamas simply discourage Hamas from making the changes demanded by the international community," he said, according to the statement.

Olmert also said that once Hamas forms its government, it will no longer be possible to differentiate between the Hamas government and Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, the head of Fatah, who was elected separately and remains in power.

Last week Olmert differed with a view expressed by Foreign minister Tzipi Livni, who said that the Hamas election victory renders Abbas "not relevant.?

However, Israel has already cut off transfers of funds to the PA.