Russia must improve democracy: Rice

Russia must do more to show it is committed to ‘‘the basics of democracy’’ if it wants deeper relations with the West, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Saturday. The former Soviet specialist, arrived from Warsaw in Ankara, where she will also 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