Russia will try to persuade the militant Palestinian group Hamas to renounce violence and recognize Israel's right to exist in the upcoming talks with the group, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Tuesday.

Russia is a member of the quartet mediating for peace in the Middle East, which also includes the United Nations, the United States and the European Union. A Hamas delegation is due to visit Moscow in early March at the invitation of President Vladimir Putin.

"It is too early to speak of the prospects for the upcoming talks. We are going to try and persuade Hamas to accept the principles adopted by the quartet, which include the recognition of Israel's right to exist and steps to abandon violence," Lavrov said, quoted by the Interfax news agency.

Lavrov urged Hamas to realize its responsibility for the future of the Palestinian people.

Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas officially appointed senior Hamas leader Ismail Haneya as Palestinian prime minister on Tuesday and asked him to form a new government.

Lavrov earlier said Russia hopes Hamas will become a " legitimate and useful part" of the Middle East peace process.

Source: Xinhua