From: MSN NicknameEagle_wng (Original Message) Sent: 1/20/2006 3:13 AM Friday, January 20, 2006 Rice Says Russia Fails G8 Democracy Test
By George Gedda
Associated Press
WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Wednesday that Russia’s drift away from democracy is inconsistent with its duties as president of the Group of Eight industrialized nations.
Rice offered the criticism during an appearance at Georgetown University even as she is attempting to enlist Russian support for strong action against Iran in the International Atomic Energy Agency.
“I think it’s very important that Russia understand that certain responsibilities and certain expectations and certain obligations come with being the chair of an organization that is avowedly of industrialized democracies,” she said in response to a question.
Russia assumed the rotating chairmanship of the G8 on Jan. 1 and will host a summit of the group in St. Petersburg later this year. The Kremlin’s authoritarian streak has strained relations with the West and prompted some members of the U.S. Congress to call for Russia’s suspension from the group.
Since Vladimir Putin became Russian president in 2000, his government has established a firm grip over all national broadcasters, the parliament has become a rubber-stamp for the Kremlin and popularly elected provincial governors have been replaced with Putin appointees.
Rice rejected suggestions that Russia is embracing a Soviet-style approach to governance.
“It is not true,” she said.
But, she said, Russia, in light of its close institutional ties to the west, must embrace the democratic path.
“If you’re going to be part of the G8, you better be an industrialized democracy or people are going to have a lot of questions when they show up for the G8 sessions,” she said.
Rice seemed to reject suggestions that Russia be excluded from the G8.
She said Russia must maintain links with the democratic west, including its ties to NATO. At the same time, she said, the United States must work with those in Russia who are pushing for democracy.
“The issue is how to ensure that civil society can continue to operate,” Rice said.
Non-governmental organizations in Russia suffered a setback recently with approval of a law that imposes new restrictions on them.
Rice has been pressing for democracy in Russia even though the United States needs Moscow’s support on a variety of crucial issues, including efforts to rein in the nuclear programs of both Iran and North Korea and on non-proliferation issues in general.
The United States and key European countries have been attempting to bring the Iran issue before the U.N. Security Council but Russia, along with China, have urged continued negotiations with Iran as opposed to confrontation.
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