Well, I haven't got a huge amount of time for Putin. But in this case, you have to read the diplomatic language:
Quote:
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Speaking through a Spanish interpreter, Putin said: "We haven't considered Hamas a terrorist organization. Today we must recognize that Hamas has reached power in Palestine as a result of legitimate elections and we must respect the choice of the Palestinian people."
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He's not saying they aren't terrorist, just that the Russian state won't treat them like they are.
Personally I think he's taking a pragmatic approach - it's good to open up some kind of a dialogue. If the West is refusing to do so, it's better that dialogue starts
somewhere rather than not at all. Through a third party seems better than nothing IMO.
Plus they are the democratically elected government of the palestinian territories - it seems a bit wrong to not (at least) recognise their government and open up some kind of diplomatic channel, even if you don't give them any aid.
[ 02-09-2006, 06:45 PM: Message edited by: shamrock_uk ]