Javier Solana says he secretly met Hamas

* EU Spokeswoman denies Solana had direct contact with Palestinian militant group

LONDON: EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana had secret talks with the Palestinian militant group Hamas even though it is on the European Union’s list of banned organisations, he said in an interview broadcast on Thursday.

“I have had direct contact with Hamas but not in the last few days,” Solana told BBC Radio. “Those meetings were not long. They were just to pass a clear message of where the international community was.”

He declined to say who he met or where the meetings took place. Asked how long ago they took place, he said: “months”.

British Foreign Minister Jack Straw, talking to the BBC from Jerusalem, declined to comment directly and repeated British policy on Hamas, which is committed to Israel’s destruction.

“Our position is very clear. We do not have contact with Hamas,” Straw said. “We do not believe in contacts with Hamas or other proscribed organisations. What these organisations have to do if they want to take part in discussions is to renounce violence.”

An Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman condemned Hamas but stopped short of criticising Solana for meeting its representatives.

“We don’t see Hamas as a political partner,” the spokesman told BBC Radio’s Today programme.

“We see them as a deadly terrorist organisation responsible for countless suicide bombings in Israeli cities and towns. We think they’re part of the problem, not part of the solution.”

Meanwhile in a statement, Solana denied having had direct contact with the Palestinian militant group Hamas. Solana’s office issued a statement saying “at no time Dr Solana wished to imply that direct contacts between himself and Hamas had taken place” since the Islamic movement was put on the EU’s list of banned terrorist organisations.

“Any mention of contacts or meetings with Hamas referred to soundings and impressions conveyed to him but gathered by governments and other parties on the ground,” his spokeswoman, Cristina Gallach, said in the statement.

“At no time did the High Representative nor his office hold direct contacts with Hamas or any other organisation appearing on the EU terrorist list.” reuters