Two servicemen wounded in Ingushetia.

NAZRAN, March 12 (Itar-Tass) -- Two army servicemen guarding a traffic
police post in the volatile North Caucasus Republic of Ingushetia were
slightly wounded late on Thursday when unknown gunmen opened fire at the
post.

Police said the gunmen fired from an under-barrel grenade launcher and
small arms for two-three minutes and fled.
The building of the post was damaged.

.Schroeder warns Ukrainian gas transit system outdated.


MOSCOW, March 12 (Itar-Tass) -- Former German Chancellor Gerhard
Schroeder warned the European Union on Thursday that despite improving
political relations between Moscow and Kiev reliable gas supplies from
Russia may be again jeopardized by the outdated Ukrainian gas transit
network.
"The transit problem still exists. It does not mean that someone may
shut down the transit via Ukraine by a political decision. The problem is
that the Ukrainian gas transit system may be incapable of supplying gas in
20 years as it will be inoperative," he told a Russian-German forum in
Moscow on Thursday.
He called to upgrade the network by international effort to prevent
new transit crises in future.
"The state of the transit route is unsatisfactory. The problem has to
be resolved. It is necessary to internationalize the pipeline which is
very important for Europe in order to prevent a transit crisis in future,"
Schroeder said.
New Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich proposed to return to the
idea of creating an international consortium involving Russia and the
European Union that would lease the transit network and invest into its
modernization.
Schroeder also called to invest in alternative gas transit routes -
the South Stream, Nord Stream and Nabucco projects.
He said the European Union and Russia are interdependent and have to
promote integration in all spheres.
"The EU needs Russia and Russia needs the European Union. Russia will
not successfully cope with any global challenge and modernize its economy
and society all by itself. At least it would not be as successful as we
would like it to be," he said.
Schroeder called "to draft a sustainable policy in the sphere of
energy, including energy security promotion, as well as energy efficiency
and the use of renewable energy sources."
"It is necessary to engage Russia in joint associations with the EU in
trade and economic relations and promotion of global and energy security,"
he said.
Schroeder also urged the West to drop the idea of drawing Ukraine and
Georgia into NATO.
"It should be absolutely clear it is not in the interests of stability
in Europe to accept Georgia and Ukraine into NATO. I believe they
understand it in Ukraine after the (presidential) election," he said.
As for Georgia, Schroeder said independent analysis confirmed it was
Georgia that initiated the war in the Caucasus in August 2008. "That
proves there are people (in Georgia) with who it is hardly possible to
cooperate," he said, clearly referring to President Mikhail Saakashvili.
Schroeder added the West should not ignore Russian radical opposition
to NATO plans to expand to its borders by accepting Ukraine and Georgia.

.SOCCER - Rubin draws Wolfsburg in first leg of Europa League.

KAZAN, March 12 (Itar-Tass) -- FC Rubin Kazan will face a difficult
task in Germany next week after it drew 1:1 the first-leg home match in
UEFA Europa League against Vfl Wolfsburg.
The orange ball was out on a freezing Kazan night on Thursday as
temperature was minus 6 degrees Centigrade. It was snowing the whole day
and the pitch was slippery.
"It was a difficult match. The slippery pitch did not allow to use our
potential in full," Rubin's goalkeeper Sergei Ryzhikov told Tass after the
game.
Christian Noboa's header gave Rubin the initial edge, but Zvjezdan
Misimovic scored an equalizer in the second half.
Rubin's Captain Sergei Semak hopes to beat Wolfsburg in Germany, but
admitted it would be a difficult task.
"Wolfsburg has a powerful charge plus German discipline," he said.

.Tatarstan to introduce new post for outgoing president.

KAZAN, March 12 (Itar-Tass) -- The parliament of the Muslim Republic
of Tatarstan will introduce on Friday a new high official post
specifically for its outgoing President Mintimer Shaimiyev whose term of
office expires on March 25.
State Council (parliament) speaker Farid Mukhametshin said a lawbill
will be considered to introduce the post of the counselor of state that
will be offered to Shaimiyev.
The counselor of state will provide recommendations to authorities and
will work free of charge, the speaker said.
Shaimiyev, 73, has headed oil-rich Tatarstan since 1991 and said he
wanted to step aside for a new generation of politicians.
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