U.S. President George W. Bush warned Russia not to stray from the path to democracy and said Europe and the U.S. need to remind President Vladimir Putin of the importance of a strong opposition, a free press and power-sharing. ``The Russian government must renew a commitment to democracy and the rule of law,'' Bush said in a speech in Brussels today during the first trip to Europe of his second term. ``The United States and all European countries should place democratic reform at the heart of their dialogue with Russia.''Putin, who meets with Bush on Feb. 24, has stepped up control of the Russian media and ended the direct election of regional governors, whom he will now appoint. The U.S. and Russia have also clashed over Russia's help for Iran in building a nuclear power plant and over Putin's opposition to pro-western Ukrainian presidential candidate Viktor Yushchenko in last year's election. The largest shareholder in OAO Yukos Oil Co. last week urged the U.S. to block Russia's quest for World Trade Organization membership, saying the government pushed Yukos into bankruptcy with its demands for $28 billion in taxes. The tax bill raised concerns that Putin is seeking to tighten control of businesses. Bush said the U.S. supports Russia's bid to join the WTO. ``America supports WTO membership for Russia, because meeting WTO standards will strengthen the gains of freedom and prosperity in that country,'' he said. ``Russia's future lies within the family of Europe and the trans-Atlantic community.''
It was a mistake to let China into the WTO and two wrongs won't make a right.