LOC23:44
20:44 GMT
GAZA, Aug 13 (KUNA) -- The Hamas Movement said, in return to an invitation
for dialogue proposed by Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi Monday, that it
was ready for an open dialogue with the West.
Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zehri said the invitation for dialogue between the
West and the Palestinian movement, as proposed by Prodi, was "deeply
appreciated by Hamas."
He added that similar invitations for dialogue had come from "other
European sides" including a delegation of UK legislators, who slammed their
government for its attitude towards Hamas and called for opening a dialogue
with the Palestinian movement.
Abu Zehri stressed that these invitations for dialogue have underlined "the
mistake committed by the West and Europe in the way they dealt with Hamas."
He expressed hope that such invitations would receive positive responses
and stated that his movement was ready for dialogue with the West.
Prodi had underlined, in a recent statement, the "need to engage in a
dialogue with Hamas to help achieve its political development."
The Italian prime minister had added that Hamas had become a reality on the
ground but remained a complicated structure that needed to be developed with
European help. (end)
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