10/02/2006 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission is confident that even if President Putin does invite the leaders of Hamas to Moscow (as he announced in a press conference in Madrid last Thursday), he will do so "in full respect of commitments undertaken within the framework of the Quartet" on the Middle East (EU, UN, United States, Russia). As a member of the Quartet, Russia signed the joint declaration published in London on 31 January, stressing that the future Palestinian government (no explicit reference to Hamas was made: Ed) must commit to non-violence, accept existing agreements and recognise Israel's right to exist (EUROPE 9121). Russia, therefore, shares this position and "we are confident that their contact with Hamas, if such contact takes place, will fully respect the Quartet's declaration", a Commission spokesperson announced on Friday. Russia does not treat Hamas as the EU does; the Union has placed the organisation on its list of terrorist groups with which any official contact is banned, the spokesperson pointed out.