The Hamas and Hizbollah radical movements are represented in the governments of the Palestinian Authority and Lebanon, respectively. They are considered by neighboring Israel to be terrorist organizations, which led recently to a number of armed clashes between Israel and the two movements.
"As Hamas and Hizbollah, using elections and democratic processes, become part of the power structure, they realize better their responsibilities to their electors and for the fate of their people," Sergei Lavrov, who is currently on an official two-day visit to the Middle East, said.
Lavrov said the responsibility of these movements presumes "an unconditional renunciation of terrorist methods for solving problems, a renunciation of the position according to which Israel has no right to exist, and the need to accept all current agreements reached through talks between Israel and Arabs."
Ivanov reiterated that Russia never qualified these movements as terrorist organizations, and that there was no such decision on behalf of the United Nations.
Russia provoked anger in some countries February, when it invited a Hamas delegation to Moscow. The group won a landslide victory during elections to the Palestinian Authority in January.
