Mideast quartet says Hamas must reject violence

January 30, 2006
Reuters
Original Source: http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L30410384.htm

LONDON, Jan 30 (Reuters) - Islamic militant group Hamas must reject violence and recognise the state of Israel if it participates in the Palestinian government, major powers mediating in the Middle East conflict said on Monday. 
All members of the future Palestinian government must be committed to non-violence, recognition of Israel and acceptance of previous agreements and obligations, including the roadmap, the quartet of the United States, European Union, Russia and the United Nations said in a statement. 
U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan read out the statement at a news conference after the quartet met in London. 
He added that donor countries would be reviewing their aid to Palestinians under a new Hamas-led government. 
The quartet concluded that it was inevitable that future assistance to any new government would be reviewed by donors against that government's commitment to the principles of non- violence, recognition of Israel and the acceptance of previous agreements and obligations including the roadmap. 
The United States has said it will not give aid directly to a Hamas-led Palestinian government. 
Hamas, which performed strongly in last week's Palestinian elections, is formally dedicated to Israel's destruction and carried out a suicide bombing campaign during the Palestinian uprising which broke out in 2000. 
Annan also said if it changed, Hamas could hope for engagement with the international community. 
If Hamas ... transforms itself from an armed movement into a political party respecting the rules of the game ... I think the international community should be able to work with them.