MOSCOW (AP) - Russia's Foreign Ministry on Tuesday stopped short of criticizing the United States for opposing the creation of a permanent international war crimes tribunal, but noted that the decision might leave Washington isolated.
"Quite a few people in the world believe that the United States is making a mistake by openly opposing the court," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement, while also noting that Washington had a "formal right" to make such a decision.
Moscow noted that almost 70 nations had already ratified the treaty, and by the end of the year that number was likely to grow to about 90, the Foreign Ministry said.
The United States said Monday it wants nothing to do with a treaty creating the first permanent international war crimes tribunal. U.S. officials warned that the international criminal court would threaten U.S. sovereignty, and said that it would regard as "illegitimate" any attempts by the court to assert jurisdiction over U.S. citizens.
The International Criminal Court gained the necessary international backing to come into being last month when 10 nations joined 56 others in ratifying the treaty, negotiated in Rome in 1998. It is expected to start-up in July.
U.S. President Bill Clinton signed the treaty, but never submitted it to the Senate for ratification. The Bush administration has made its opposition clear.
Russia voiced its support for the treaty in September 2000. Moscow has not yet ratified it, however, and the Foreign Ministry said a decision on the document's ratification was still being studied.