GAZA, Aug. 13 (Xinhua) -- A spokesman for the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) Monday reiterated that his group was ready to open dialogue with Europe and hailed a call by Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi for launching dialogue with the Islamic movement.

"We hope that the calls to launch a dialogue with Hamas would find an echo and would lead to fruitful results," Sami Abu Zuhri said in a statement, adding that "we reiterate our concerns and readiness for an opened dialogue with the West."

Speaking at a conference in Italy on Sunday, Prodi said that Hamas' existence was a fact and the group must be integrated into the political process rather than excluded.

Abu Zuhri said, "We received Mr. Prodi's statements with care and appreciation ... his words coincide with other positive European officials' statements."

Several British parliamentarians had also slammed their government for its negative position towards Hamas, he added.

"Such positive stances came after the West realized how fatal their mistake was when they decided to boycott the movement," said Abu Zuhri.

Hamas movement took control of the Gaza Strip in mid June after its militants had defeated Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah movement and his security forces.

Abbas in turn dismissed the Hamas-led coalition government and appointed a new one led by U.S.-backed Prime Minister Salam Fayyadin the West Bank.