| Secretary of the Russian Security Council Igor Ivanov does not intend to meet with representatives of the Palestinian radical group Hamas during his visit to the Middle East. A Vremya Novostey correspondent was assured of this yesterday at the Russian Embassy in Israel. Tomorrow in Ramallah, the administrative center of the Palestinian Authority, Igor Ivanov will hold negotiations with the head of the Palestinian National Authority Mahmoud Abbas and his supporter Muhammad Dahlyan. Actually in Israel, Mr. Ivanov will meet today with Prime Minister Ehud Olmert, Foreign Minister Mrs. Tzipi Livni and Chairman of the Israeli Security Council Ilan Mizrahi. The timing of the visit was not chosen by chance. There is increased diplomatic activity in the region - US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon visited the Middle East in two weeks. Former Israeli Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom reminded VN that Igor Ivanov, from the time when he headed the Russian Foreign Ministry, “has maintained good, sometimes even friendly relations with a number of Israeli politicians.” Maria GRISHINA, Jerusalem
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