Azerbaijan, Baku, October 29 / Trend U. Sadikhova /
Hamas's refusal from participation in the presidential elections and the elections to the Legislative Council testifies that the Palestinian movement is afraid of the results of these elections, " Foreign Minister of the Palestinian National Authority, Riyad al-Maliki said at a press-conference in Baku.
"Mahmoud Abbas's administration fulfilled all requirements of the constitution up to now. Those who deny these laws and articles of the Constitution, are just afraid of the election results," Maliki said.
The Presidential elections and the elections for legislative assembly of the Palestinian National Authority will be held on January 25, 2010, President of the Authority Mahmoud Abbas said.
Abbas's statement on the date of elections was made amid Hamas's refusal, controlling the Gaza strip, from participation in these elections, till the inter-Palestinian agreement on the establishment of the national government is achieved.
Despite Egypt's efforts in the negotiations between Hamas and the ruling Fatah party, Palestinian parties failed to sign a reconciliation agreement, scheduled for late October.
Riyad al-Maliki said that Hamas's refusal from participation in the elections testifies that the organization uses the electoral process to come to power.
"We hope that the elections will be held at the appointed time", Maliki said.
Hamas called on Egypt to suspend the negotiations, saying that President Abbas ordered the Palestinian delegation to the UN to stand for abolition of the elections on the report of the Goldstone.
Authors of the report accuse Israel of committing military crimes in the Gaza Strip against Palestinian civilians during the operation "Cast Lead" in late December 2008 - early January 2009.