04 February 2004 14:37
Russia says World Court no help in Israel fence row
Russia is sceptical about plans to question in the World Court the legality of Israel's building of a barrier in the West Bank, a senior Foreign Ministry official was quoted as saying on Wednesday.
The United Nations has asked the International Court of Justice in the Hague to rule on the legality of the barrier, which Israel says is intended to stop the infiltration of suicide bombers and which Palestinians call a land grab. Israel objects to the court's right to rule on the legality of the barrier.
Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Yuri Fedotov told Interfax news agency that in Moscow's eyes the construction of a barrier hampered peace efforts in the region, but hearings in the World Court were unlikely to help. "We consider that (Israel's) actions have received a proper political reaction at the U.N. General Assembly," Fedotov said. "There are strong doubts over whether the World Court could add anything new." Fedotov said Russia's position had been outlined in official comments requested by the court.
On Thursday the European Union said it did not think the World Court should rule on the legality of the barrier. Last week the United States and Britain both filed statements supporting Israel's objections, even though both countries have expressed concern about the barrier's route.
Moscow is formally a co-sponsor of Middle East peace talks with the United States, but its influence in the region has been greatly diminished since the Soviet era.
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