OTTAWA, March 6 (Xinhuanet) -- Hamas is still open to peace negotiations with Israel and "has not ruled out" resuming talks onthe basis of the roadmap designed by the quartet of mediators, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said here Monday.

    "Hamas is considering adopting a position in support of the roadmap," Lavrov told reporters at a joint press conference with Canadian Foreign Minister Peter Mackay after talks on trade, security and environmental issues.

    "Hamas is concerned that Israel made quite a number of reservations to the roadmap which basically prejudge the final stages issues ... but Hamas did not rule out the resumption of the negotiations on the basis of the road map as the quarter drafted,"the minister said.

    Noting that the talks with Hamas in Moscow last week were "very useful", Lavrov pronounced that Russia would maintain contacts with the militant group and urged other nations to do the same.

    He also stressed that Russia's message to Hamas is "identical to the position of the quartet."

    Talking about the Iran nuclear issue, Lavrov urged the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to secure the nuclear non-proliferation regime while calling on Iran to resume the nuclear moratorium and ratify the additional protocol of the IAEA.

    "The outcome of the IAEA meeting that began in Vienna may be acceptable only if it gives full answers to remaining questions about Iran's previous nuclear program."

    "It is also important to avoid a situation where the nuclear non-proliferation regime may be endangered," Lavrov said.

    He did not rule out the singing of an agreement on a joint uranium-enrichment enterprise with Iran, which "may meet all of Iran's peaceful nuclear energy needs." Enditem