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Rice: Russia Must Improve Democracy for Better Ties Sat Feb 5, 2005 11:53 AM ET
By Saul Hudson ANKARA (Reuters) - Russia must do more to show it is committed to “the basics of democracy” if it wants deeper relations with the West, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Saturday.
The former Soviet specialist, on her first trip abroad as the top U.S. diplomat, arrived from Warsaw in Ankara, where she will pay a call on a key ally in the Muslim world and meet her Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.
“Obviously we have concerns … it is important that Russia make clear to the world that it is intent on strengthening the rule of law, strengthening the role of an independent judiciary, permitting a free and independent press,” Rice told a news conference in Warsaw, during a stopover en route to Turkey.
“These are all the basics of democracy.”
Rice also said that Moscow needed to support democratic trends in its neighborhood, an apparent reference to last year’s U.S. clash with Russia over rigged elections in Ukraine.
“This is not just about democratic developments in Russia. It is about democratic developments in the whole of Europe and all of the neighbors of Russia,” Rice told reporters on board her plane en route to Ankara.
President Bush has vowed this year to spread democracy around the world in a pledge that political analysts say could complicate relations with Russia, which typically balks at U.S. criticism of its internal affairs.
Last year, the United States began voicing its concern over what it called Russia’s “backsliding,” and during a 10-stop, eight-day tour of Europe and the Middle East Rice said she would keep expressing those concerns in hopes of improving ties.
“We really do believe a more democratic foundation in Russia … will indeed strengthen and underscore and put a real sort of substance into a deepening relationship with the democracies of Europe, and indeed the United States.”
In December, parliament approved President Vladimir Putin’s plans to scrap gubernatorial elections and allow the president to nominate governors. Putin has also allowed an apparently politically motivated case to proceed against oil major YUKOS.
But Rice also stressed U.S. co-operation with Russia in areas such as counter-terrorism and trade, and said Washington’s diplomacy had resolved a clash with Russia over Ukraine.
Late last year, Putin supported the winner of the rigged presidential election in Russia’s neighbor, but U.S. pressure helped force a rerun which was eventually won by the West-leaning candidate who had angered Moscow.
MOVING ON
Rice cited Ukraine, along with Afghanistan, Georgia and Iraq, as places that were building the institutions of democracy, and said America and Europe should work together in “the great cause of the spread of freedom and liberty.”
“What we’re hearing from Europe is a desire to move on to the next chapter in the history of this great alliance. That is a chapter that should be devoted to … the opportunities to try and sustain the momentum toward a Palestinian-Israeli resolution of that long-standing conflict,” Rice said.
Poland wants closer transatlantic ties, and Rice thanked the EU newcomer for its “extraordinary contribution” in Iraq, where it has one of the largest non-U.S. troop contingents. She also applauded Poland’s role in defusing the Ukraine crisis.
Russia opposed the U.S. invasion of Iraq but has also slowly sought to ease tensions over the war. Moscow cautiously welcomed Sunday’s elections in Iraq in comments U.S. officials said was a sign it wanted to focus on the future.
Rice’s visit to Turkey underscores her pledge that “now is the time for diplomacy.”
Her predecessor Colin Powell, criticized for traveling to allies too little, did not visit Turkey in the build-up to the Iraq war and was blamed by some in Washington for Ankara’s refusal to allow U.S. troops to invade from its soil.
Lavrov is flying to Ankara to meet Rice for dinner.
Rice will also press Russia to keep on hold a fuel supply deal for an Iranian reactor, in a bid to thwart what Washington calls the Islamic Republic’s drive to build a nuclear bomb. Oil-rich Iran denies it is developing such a weapon and says its nuclear programs are for peaceful power generation. (Additional reporting by Sabina Zawadzki)
By Saul Hudson ANKARA (Reuters) - Russia must do more to show it is committed to “the basics of democracy” if it wants deeper relations with the West, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Saturday.
The former Soviet specialist, on her first trip abroad as the top U.S. diplomat, arrived from Warsaw in Ankara, where she will pay a call on a key ally in the Muslim world and meet her Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.
“Obviously we have concerns … it is important that Russia make clear to the world that it is intent on strengthening the rule of law, strengthening the role of an independent judiciary, permitting a free and independent press,” Rice told a news conference in Warsaw, during a stopover en route to Turkey.
“These are all the basics of democracy.”
Rice also said that Moscow needed to support democratic trends in its neighborhood, an apparent reference to last year’s U.S. clash with Russia over rigged elections in Ukraine.
“This is not just about democratic developments in Russia. It is about democratic developments in the whole of Europe and all of the neighbors of Russia,” Rice told reporters on board her plane en route to Ankara.
President Bush has vowed this year to spread democracy around the world in a pledge that political analysts say could complicate relations with Russia, which typically balks at U.S. criticism of its internal affairs.
Last year, the United States began voicing its concern over what it called Russia’s “backsliding,” and during a 10-stop, eight-day tour of Europe and the Middle East Rice said she would keep expressing those concerns in hopes of improving ties.
“We really do believe a more democratic foundation in Russia … will indeed strengthen and underscore and put a real sort of substance into a deepening relationship with the democracies of Europe, and indeed the United States.”
In December, parliament approved President Vladimir Putin’s plans to scrap gubernatorial elections and allow the president to nominate governors. Putin has also allowed an apparently politically motivated case to proceed against oil major YUKOS.
But Rice also stressed U.S. co-operation with Russia in areas such as counter-terrorism and trade, and said Washington’s diplomacy had resolved a clash with Russia over Ukraine.
Late last year, Putin supported the winner of the rigged presidential election in Russia’s neighbor, but U.S. pressure helped force a rerun which was eventually won by the West-leaning candidate who had angered Moscow.
MOVING ON
Rice cited Ukraine, along with Afghanistan, Georgia and Iraq, as places that were building the institutions of democracy, and said America and Europe should work together in “the great cause of the spread of freedom and liberty.”
“What we’re hearing from Europe is a desire to move on to the next chapter in the history of this great alliance. That is a chapter that should be devoted to … the opportunities to try and sustain the momentum toward a Palestinian-Israeli resolution of that long-standing conflict,” Rice said.
Poland wants closer transatlantic ties, and Rice thanked the EU newcomer for its “extraordinary contribution” in Iraq, where it has one of the largest non-U.S. troop contingents. She also applauded Poland’s role in defusing the Ukraine crisis.
Russia opposed the U.S. invasion of Iraq but has also slowly sought to ease tensions over the war. Moscow cautiously welcomed Sunday’s elections in Iraq in comments U.S. officials said was a sign it wanted to focus on the future.
Rice’s visit to Turkey underscores her pledge that “now is the time for diplomacy.”
Her predecessor Colin Powell, criticized for traveling to allies too little, did not visit Turkey in the build-up to the Iraq war and was blamed by some in Washington for Ankara’s refusal to allow U.S. troops to invade from its soil.
Lavrov is flying to Ankara to meet Rice for dinner.
Rice will also press Russia to keep on hold a fuel supply deal for an Iranian reactor, in a bid to thwart what Washington calls the Islamic Republic’s drive to build a nuclear bomb. Oil-rich Iran denies it is developing such a weapon and says its nuclear programs are for peaceful power generation. (Additional reporting by Sabina Zawadzki)
