U.S. expects Quartet meeting to urge Hamas to renounce violence

The United States said on Wednesday that it expects the meeting of the Quartet, or the United States, the United Nations, the European Union and Russia, to urge Hamas to renounce violence and recognize Israel.

"I expect that they will reaffirm their commitment to the quartet statement from a year ago yesterday, which outlines the conditions that Hamas has to meet if they want to realize a different kind of relationship with the international community," State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said at a briefing.

The Quartet held a meeting one year ago and issued a statement urging Hamas, who won the Palestinian legislative elections at that time, to renounce violence, recognize Israel as well as previous peace agreements between Palestine and Israel. However, Hamas has rejected the appeal.

McCormack said U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice will also discuss with the other three sides about her recent trip to the Middle East and her upcoming visit to the Middle East in mid- February to push the Middle East peace process.

The United States has suspended contacts and aid to the Hamas- led Palestinian government and said Hamas will not be a peace partner unless it renounces violence and recognizes Israel.

Source: Xinhua