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 U.S. 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 U.S. 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.

Many activists want Rice to lean harder on Putin and they complain that despite President Bush's pledge to spread freedom worldwide, the administration's approach is too cautious for fear of losing Russia's cooperation in the war on terrorism.

Last year, then-Secretary of State Colin Powell also accused Russia of reversing trends toward democracy, but Rice -- following Bush's lead -- has studiously avoided such pointed criticism.

Instead, Rice, whose diplomacy draws strength from her closeness to the president, says Russia should not be isolated. Rather, the United States should take measures such as helping Russia to join the World Trade Organization because open markets can foster more open societies, according to Rice.

Richard Lugar, the influential chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said he was worried about Russian nuclear material being stolen but wanted the Bush administration to strike a balance with Moscow.

"Even as relations with Europe are improving, tensions continue in the U.S.-Russian relationship. Russia's retreat from democracy at home and its attempts to influence elections abroad have raised considerable concern," the Indiana Republican said at a committee hearing last week.

The administration "has a difficult road ahead ... to reinvigorate democratic principles in Russia while maintaining strong bilateral cooperation in the war on terrorism," he added.

Rice, who will also attend a NATO meeting in Lithuania, hopes to flesh out a fairly cosmetic agreement between the two presidents in February on increasing cooperation on keeping nuclear material out of the hands of terrorists.

But a Russian diplomat said criticism over democracy stoked some influential lawmakers' suspicions Washington wants to limit Russia's standing abroad, making it harder to win their support for cooperation over such military issues.

"Suspicion is there and we have to work very deliberately to move away from the Cold War legacy," said the diplomat, who asked not to be identified.

Source: Agencies