US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice wants to tie Russia closer to the West with trade incentives and only tempered criticism of its eroding democracy during a two-day trip to Moscow this week. The former Soviet specialist will visit Moscow to shore up a deal meant to stop anti-American militants from stealing Russian nuclear material while stemming what her predecessor called Russia's democratic backsliding.
With many Russians suspicious Washington wants to curb their country's development and influence abroad, Rice said she would stress the benefits for the Russian economy and its relations with the West if it improves its democratic record.
"My message there will be that a democratic and vibrant and prosperous Russia is in everyone's interests," said Rice, who was scheduled to arrive in Moscow late Tuesday for her first trip to Russia as the top US diplomat.
One of Washington's main difficulties in Europe is "to find a relationship with Russia that can bring Russia west so that Russia continues its progress toward a more democratic and open and free market society," Rice told a conference of US newspaper editors.
Western and Russian civil rights campaigners accuse President Vladimir Putin of restricting democracy by abolishing the election of provincial governors, pursuing a political vendetta against the Yukos oil company and tightening the Kremlin's grip on the media.
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