Download "Photo op of Russian FM Lavrov and Hamas political chief Mashaal"

(3 Mar 2006) 1. Exterior of Russian Foreign Ministry 2. Various of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov shaking hands with Khaled Mashaal, head of Hamas' political bureau 3. Cutaway of photographers 4. Various of Russian and Hamas delegations seated around conference table 5. Cutaway of reporters 6. Russian and Hamas delegations seated around conference table STORYLINE: Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov welcomed Hamas' exiled political leader Khaled Mashaal to Moscow, in the militant group's highest-profile foreign visit since winning the Palestinian parliamentary elections in January. Earlier on Friday, Mashaal, head of the the movement's political bureau, rejected any discussion about the militant group's refusal to recognise Israel's right to exist, dealing a setback to Moscow's efforts to persuade it to soften its stance. The Hamas delegation is set to have talks with Russian officials and lawmakers as well as a meeting with Russian Orthodox Patriarch Alexy II. In an apparent attempt to avoid further damage in relations with Israel, Putin decided against personally meeting the Palestinian delegation, which will have only a sightseeing tour of the Kremlin on Sunday. Russia's invitation, extended by President Vladimir Putin, was the first crack in an international front against the group, considered a terrorist organisation by Israel, the European Union and the United States. Hamas, which has killed many Israelis in suicide bombings, and had it's last two leaders and countless other activists assassinated by Israel, has largely stuck to an informal truce, though it has not renounced violence against Israel and does not recognise the Jewish state. Putin's invitation to Hamas last month was the latest bid by Moscow to invigorate its role in Middle East peacemaking. Find out more about AP Archive: https://newsroom.ap.org/editorial-photos-videos/home Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/unsupportedbrowser ​​ Instagram: https://www.facebook.com/unsupportedbrowser You can license this story through AP Archive: https://newsroom.ap.org/editorial-photos-videos/detail?itemid=840cfaab395556bf1b5b02aa71699be9&mediatype=video&source=youtube