EU chief held secret talks with Hamas - Report

11/25/2004 6:30:00 AM GMT

The European Union foreign policy chief, Javier Solana, announced on Thursday that he had held secret talks with the Palestinian Hamas movement.

"I have had direct contact with Hamas but not in the last few days," Solana told BBC Radio.

He noted that "Those meetings were not long. They were just to pass a clear message of where the international community was."

Solana said that he secretly met with Hamas some month ago, adding that the meeting came at a time where there seemed to be a chance to push for progress.

However, he refused to reveal who he met or where the talks took place. He also said that it was a secret meeting that was only known by those who had to know.

British Foreign Minister, Jack Straw, declined to directly comment on the news. But he said; "Our position is very clear. We do not have contact with Hamas,"

"We do not believe in contacts with Hamas or other proscribed organizations. What these organizations have to do if they want to take part in discussions is to renounce violence."

The EU and the United States have added Hamas on their lists of banned organizations last year.

Later, Solana's office denied the report and released a statement saying; "With reference to the BBC interview broadcast today, the office of the High Representative, Javier Solana, clarifies that at no time Dr Solana wished to imply that direct contacts between himself and Hamas had taken place,"

Solana has a big role in the Middle East; the European Union has participated in designing the so-called roadmap peace plan.