WASHINGTON, February 2 (RIA Novosti) - Russia will pressure the ruling Palestinian Islamist group Hamas to implement proposals put forward by the Quartet of Middle East mediators, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Friday.
The minister, speaking after a meeting of the Quartet in Washington, said: "Not all members of the Quartet have relations with Hamas, but what we are doing is aimed at implementing the position of the quartet."
The minister also said Syria should be brought into the Palestinian-Israeli peace process.
"We support bringing into the peace process all sides who can help make progress, and Syria could play a substantial role in this," Lavrov said.
Lavrov also said there must be a viable government in Palestine, ready for talks with Israel.
The Middle East Quartet mediators - the United States, Russia, the United Nations and the European Union - expressed concern in a joint statement after their meeting over the latest surge of violence in the Gaza Strip, which left more than 20 Palestinians dead and over 200 wounded since shooting began between gunmen of Hamas opposition Fatah.
