MOSCOW, Feb. 26 (Xinhuanet) -- Russia expects a Hamas delegation to visit Moscow in early March for talks on the Middle East peace process, Russia's special Middle East envoy said on Sunday.

    "We anticipate that the Hamas delegation will visit at the end of the first week of March. Considering all the circumstances, including the formation of the delegation and the way of travel, one may say the process is time consuming," Alexander Kalugin was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying.

    Kalugin added Hamas' political leader Khaled Mashaal may lead the delegation and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov may meet the Hamas representatives during the visit.

    "The main thing is they should clearly speak on the issue of recognizing the state of Israel," Kalugin said.

    Hamas is set to send a delegation to Moscow for talks with Russia at the invitation of President Vladimir Putin.

    Lavrov earlier said Moscow hopes Hamas will become a "legitimate and useful part" of the Middle East peace process and Russia will try to persuade the militant group to renounce violence and recognize Israel's right to exist in the upcoming talks.

    Russia is a member of the quartet mediating for peace in the Middle East, which also includes the United Nations, the United States and the European Union. Enditem