Hamas' political leader has reaffirmed the organisation's stance on Israel at the start of a three-day visit to Russia on Friday. The visit is aimed at relieving the Palestinian militant group's international isolation, but the Hamas leader says his group's refusal to recognise Israel would not be a subject for talks.
Speaking on his arrival in Moscow, the group's Damascus-based, exiled political leader, Khaled Mashaal, , accused Israel of blocking the Mideast peace process and said that the Israeli "occupation" of Palestinian lands will be on top of the agenda at the Moscow talks.
 "I think that the problem is not with the Palestinian people but with the occupation. We want peace in the region, but peace can only be achieved by ending the occupation."
Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, was scheduled to receive Khaled Mashaal in what will be Hamas' highest-profile foreign visit.
The Hamas delegation is also set to have talks with Minister Lavrov's deputy, Alexander Saltanov, as well as Russian lawmakers.
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 United States.
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Producer: Xie Qiao