The Hindu : Russia raps Israel

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Apr 05, 2002

International

International

Russia raps Israel

By Vladimir Radyuhin

MOSCOW APRIL 4. Russia has accused Israel of excessive use of force against Arab terrorists and demanded the halting of the Israeli offensive against Palestinian territories. Moscow has also strongly condemned Israel's seige of the Palestine leader, Yasser Arafat.

``Arafat is the recognised and legitimate leader of the Palestinian people,'' the Russian Foreign Minister, Igor Ivanov, was quoted as saying on a visit to Morocco, on Thursday. "The isolation of Arafat and steps to destroy the Palestinian administration structures can only create further problems in looking for a way out of the tragic situation.''

A statement issued by the Russian Foreign Ministry today described the situation as "extremely dangerous'' and fraught with the "spreading of the crisis'' to other parts of the region. ``Developments in the region clearly demonstrate that violence in any forms, including excessive measures in combating terrorism, can only aggravate the situation, complicate the search for a solution to the problem of security and throw back the prospect of a political settlement between the Israelies and the Palestinians,'' the Russian statement said.

Russia called for "immediate implementation'' of the U.N. Security Council Resolution 1402 by both sides of the conflict.

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