RAMALLAH , July 25 (JMCC) - Hamas officials on Saturday called on countries in the European Union to engage in direct dialogue. The Islamist movement has controlled the Gaza Strip since the 2006 Palestinian legislative elections.

Hamas is keeping its doors opened for anyone who wants to have a dialogue with the movement, said Radwan, adding Hamas has now a government and a parliament.

French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner had earlier Saturday expressed his country's readiness to hold direct dialogue with Hamas, if France receives an official request from the Palestinian Authority.

The European Union and France shouldn't hesitate in having direct dialogue with Hamas on the basis of direct dialogue and not on the basis of containment, said Ismail Radwan, a Gaza-based senior Hamas leader.

EU Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton visited the Gaza Strip last week, but did not meet with any leaders of Hamas, which seized control of the enclave by force in 2007.

Read more at Haaretz…