MOSCOW, March 3 (RIA Novosti)-Russia's foreign minister said Friday that it was extremely important that Hamas understood its responsibility for the socio-economic situation in the Palestinian National Authority.
"We are satisfied with the negotiations," Sergei Lavrov said after talks with representatives of the radical movement. "The Hamas delegation gave us firm assurances that its main aim is regional peace and preventing an explosion of the situation that would lead to an impasse. The obvious priority is to solve the most acute socio-economic problems of the Palestinian people."
The minister said these included poverty, unemployment and corruption.
"It is important that the movement understands its responsibility as the winning party [in January's elections] for law and order and security on Palestinian territories," Lavrov said.