The Norwegian government said Monday that it would be prepared to meet Hamas representatives in the future despite recent pressure from the US to sever all links with the Palestinian Authority.
Oslo's position on Hamas sets it apart from much of the West, which has demanded that Hamas renounce violence and recognise the state of Israel as a precondition for a resumption of political and economic support.
"Norway has received people from all walks of political life, (including) resistance movements, for decades," Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere said during a visit to Stockholm on Monday.
"We would like to communicate our points of view very clearly, and not avoid the opportunity to listen," added Stoere. To do so he said he would not rule out a meeting at governmental level with Hamas members in the "future", provided the Palestinian movement made moves towards meeting international demands.
The Norwegian move comes on the heels of Washington's demands that the Norwegian foreign ministry not meet, even at the level of civil servants, with two Hamas representatives scheduled to visit Oslo on May 15.
Salah Bardawil and Mohammed al-Rantissi, Hamas members of the Palestinian parliament, will be in Norway at the invitation of the Norwegian Palestine Committee.
"The government believes in dialogue, including with groups whose actions we do not agree with," Norwegian Aid Minister Erik Solheim said last week.
"The goal of a dialogue with Hamas must of course be to obtain a progressive change in Hamas' point of view when it comes to resorting to violence and recognising the state of Israel," he said.
The United States has objected to the upcoming meeting even at the civil servant level, arguing that all contact with Hamas should be cut, the Norwegian foreign ministry said last weekend. Palestinian Authority President and Fatah member Mahmud Abbas is due in Norway on Wednesday.
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