Brazilian president says ready to talk to Hamas
(RAMALLAH) - Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said on Wednesday his country is prepared to talk with the Islamic Hamas movement, listed by the European Union and the United States as a terror organisation.
Speaking at a press conference with Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas after talks at his Ramallah headquarters, Lula responded to a question by saying he believed nobody, Hamas included, should be ignored in efforts to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
"Brazil is prepared to talk to everybody," he said. "All the parties involved must be listened to."
Lula, on the first visit to the region by a Brazilian head of state, was due to travel to Jordan after his West Bank visit.
On Tuesday he met Israeli leaders.
Laying a wreath Wednesday at the Ramallah tomb of iconic Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat, Lula welcomed the Palestinian authorities' decision to name the road leading past the site, "Brazil Street."
"This shows the affection which the Palestinian people have for the Brazilian people," he said.
Text and Picture Copyright 2010 AFP. All other Copyright 2010 EUbusiness Ltd. All rights reserved. This material is intended solely for personal use. Any other reproduction, publication or redistribution of this material without the written agreement of the copyright owner is strictly forbidden and any breach of copyright will be considered actionable.