Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06DAMASCUS728
2006-02-26 13:25:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Damascus
Cable title:
DAMASCUS-BASED HAMAS OFFICIALS TO TRAVEL TO MOSCOW
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHDM #0728 0571325 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 261325Z FEB 06 FM AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7276 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD PRIORITY 0663 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PRIORITY 0730 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L DAMASCUS 000728
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
PARIS FOR ZEYA, LONDON FOR TSOU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/26/2016
TAGS: KPAL PREL SY RS
SUBJECT: DAMASCUS-BASED HAMAS OFFICIALS TO TRAVEL TO MOSCOW
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Stephen A. Seche for reasons 1.4 b/d
C O N F I D E N T I A L DAMASCUS 000728
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
PARIS FOR ZEYA, LONDON FOR TSOU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/26/2016
TAGS: KPAL PREL SY RS
SUBJECT: DAMASCUS-BASED HAMAS OFFICIALS TO TRAVEL TO MOSCOW
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Stephen A. Seche for reasons 1.4 b/d
1. (C) Russian DCM Alexsey Erkhov told Polchief on February
26 that Hamas political leaders, including those based in
Damascus, would likely travel at the beginning of March to
Moscow where they would meet with Russian FM Sergei Lavrov
and Deputy FM Alexander Saltanov. When asked whether Hamas
leaders would also meet the Russian President, Erkhov
responded, "probably not" citing "technical reasons,"
including the fact that the Russian February 23-24 Defenders'
Day holiday had not left enough time to plan a meeting.
Erkhov did not, however, explicitly rule out such a meeting.
2. (C) The Russians plan to discuss with Hamas demands by
the Quartet that the rejectionist group recognize Israel,
accept previous agreements, and renounce violence. To
illustrate his point that political events and nuanced
political engagement with Hamas could help mold the group's
behavior and priorities, Erkhov noted that Hamas had largely
refrained from violence for almost a year under the
Cairo-negotiated truce. Hamas has difficult political
decisions to make and the Russian government wants to work
with them on ways to make those decisions, Erkhov said. When
asked whether the Russians were bothered by Hamas' ties to
terrorism, Erkhov said, "Yes, but we're looking toward the
future." The GOR believes engagement is important to try to
transform Hamas from a terrorist organization or even a
national liberation organization into a future peace partner,
Erkhov said.
SECHE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
PARIS FOR ZEYA, LONDON FOR TSOU
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/26/2016
TAGS: KPAL PREL SY RS
SUBJECT: DAMASCUS-BASED HAMAS OFFICIALS TO TRAVEL TO MOSCOW
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Stephen A. Seche for reasons 1.4 b/d
1. (C) Russian DCM Alexsey Erkhov told Polchief on February
26 that Hamas political leaders, including those based in
Damascus, would likely travel at the beginning of March to
Moscow where they would meet with Russian FM Sergei Lavrov
and Deputy FM Alexander Saltanov. When asked whether Hamas
leaders would also meet the Russian President, Erkhov
responded, "probably not" citing "technical reasons,"
including the fact that the Russian February 23-24 Defenders'
Day holiday had not left enough time to plan a meeting.
Erkhov did not, however, explicitly rule out such a meeting.
2. (C) The Russians plan to discuss with Hamas demands by
the Quartet that the rejectionist group recognize Israel,
accept previous agreements, and renounce violence. To
illustrate his point that political events and nuanced
political engagement with Hamas could help mold the group's
behavior and priorities, Erkhov noted that Hamas had largely
refrained from violence for almost a year under the
Cairo-negotiated truce. Hamas has difficult political
decisions to make and the Russian government wants to work
with them on ways to make those decisions, Erkhov said. When
asked whether the Russians were bothered by Hamas' ties to
terrorism, Erkhov said, "Yes, but we're looking toward the
future." The GOR believes engagement is important to try to
transform Hamas from a terrorist organization or even a
national liberation organization into a future peace partner,
Erkhov said.
SECHE