Hamas leaders said they don't expect Russia to impose conditions for their trip to Moscow this month for talks, while Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni cautioned the international community Sunday against going down the "slippery slope" of legitimizing the militant Islamic group.

Russian President Vladimir Putin extended the invitation to Hamas last week, following its sweeping victory in Palestinian elections last month. The invitation, later supported by France, infuriated Israel, which fears the international resolve to shun the militant group is weakening.

The militant group, which remains committed to Israel's destruction and has been branded a terrorist organization in the United States and Europe, is to form a new Palestinian Government in the coming weeks.

Sami Abu Zuhri, a Hamas spokesman in Gaza, said Russia and Hamas would engage in a dialogue during the militant group's visit.

"We are going to present our positions ... about the political developments and issues related to the rights of our people," Abu Zuhri said on Saturday. "Russia will listen to Hamas and Hamas will listen to Russia."

Although an official date for the visit hasn't been set, Abu Zuhri said he expects it to take place in the second half of February.

Putin's position runs counter to the stand recently taken by the so-called Quartet of Mideast peace negotiators, comprising Russia, the United States, the European Union and the UN. The Quartet, which backs the "roadmap" peace plan, has called on Hamas to renounce violence and recognize Israel, and has threatened to withhold hundreds of millions of dollars in desperately aided need to the Palestinian Authority once Hamas takes power.

Sunday, Livni urged the international community to stand firm against Hamas, which has killed hundreds of Israelis in suicide bombings.

"The Russian position is currently not accepted in the international community," Livni told Israel Radio. "Part of the danger is going down the slippery slope of first talking, then starting to understand why, then supporting with money, then granting legitimacy. This is a phenomenon that needs to be acted against."

With Hamas issuing mixed messages about the future of its military activities, Livni cautioned the world against accepting vague Hamas statements. "There is no negotiation here with Hamas about what it will and will not agree to," she said. "The conditions here are very clear, the situation is black and white."

Hamas, while adhering to its violent ideology, has voiced willingness to agree to a long-term truce if Israel would reciprocate. Hamas has largely honored a year-old ceasefire.

(China Daily February 13, 2006)