MOSCOW, March 4 (Xinhua) — The Russian government on Thursday unveiled its long-term strategy for the development of Russia\’s auto industry until 2020, with state funds up to 20 billion U.S. dollars.

Minister of Industry and Trade Viktor Khristenko told reporters after a government meeting that the estimated volume of Russian investments in the industry was revised down to 584 billion rubles (around 19.6 billion dollars).

The aggregate volume of investments in the industry until 2020 is expected to reach 1.2 to 1.8 trillion rubles (40.3 to 60.5 billion dollars), said the minister.

By 2020, the capacity of the car market in Russia will total 3. 5 million to 3.6 million units annually, with the share of imported and exported cars at 20 and 8 percent respectively.

The strategy, which should be finalized by the end of this month, also envisions demand stimuli, tax and insurance measures and support for domestic auto makers.

It also stipulates governmental encouragement on setting up research centers and technical innovation within the auto industry.

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said at Thursday\’s government meeting that \”the market now needs only quality, reliable and safe products that meet the most stringent environmental requirements.\”

\”To attain this goal, we have to launch the modern technical procedures that set the requirements for the safety of cars and cut the emission of pollutants,\” Putin was quoted as saying by the Itar-Tass news agency.

\”We\’ve succeeded in attracting to the country practically all the world\’s largest carmakers. Today, they have become an integral part of the Russian car industry,\” he added.

\”But this is not enough: our ultimate goal is to shape a modern carmaking industry in the country,\” said Putin.

Russia\’s auto industry has been struggling since the global economic crisis triggered a collapse in car sales in the country.

Russia, which was on track to become Europe\’s largest car market in 2008, saw a decline of 49 percent in car sales in 2009 from a year earlier, according to the Association of European Businesses.

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BUCHAREST, March 4 (Xinhua) — Romanian President Traian Basescu Thursday asked the American side to supplement military vehicles for Romanian troops in Afghanistan, during his surprise visit in Kandahar.

According to an official press release of the Presidential Administration, Basescu made the request in his talking with General Stanley McCristal, commander of the NATO troops in Afghanistan.

Basescu asked the U.S. to supplement the number of military vehicles issued to the Romanian troops, given an increase in 2010 in the number of Romanian troops deployed to the theatre of operations in Afghanistan

The president had made a surprise visit Thursday morning to the Romanian troops in Kandahar, coming from Astana, Kazakhstan, where he paid a two-day state visit.

On his visit to Kandahar, Basescu decorated with the \”Military Virtue\” Order in rank of Knight the war flag of the 33rd Posada Mountaineering Battalion deployed there.

Currently, there are 1,020 Romanian troops in Afghanistan and the Bucharest authorities decided late January to send 600 more soldiers there.

Romania began to send troops to Afghanistan in July 2002. The action was the country\’s first military mission abroad after the Second World War.

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Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (R) and Nino Burdzhanadze, Georgian former parliamentary speaker and a leader of the opposition meet in Moscow for talks, March 4, 2010. (Xinhua/Reuters)

MOSCOW, March 4 (Xinhua) — The reopening of the only border crossing between Russia and Georgia was a positive sign marking ease of bilateral ties, said Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Thursday.

\”This is a new facility, it creates good new opportunities for direct contacts between people,\” said Putin when meeting with Georgian opposition leader Nino Burdzhanadze.

\”This is the first stage, an act symbolizing the development of Russian-Georgian ties,\” said Putin as cited by the RIA Novosti news agency.

The Verkhny Lars (Russia) – Kazbegi (Georgia) border crossing was reopened early Monday. The border crossing on the Caucasus mountains had been closed since mid-2006 by Russia as the relations between the two countries got strained.

Russia shut down the Verkhny Lars checkpoint on July 8, 2006 citing reasons for repairs, and announced the completion of repair works last May.

Russia and Georgia agreed to reopen the border crossing last year.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (R) and Nino Burdzhanadze, Georgian former parliamentary speaker and a leader of the opposition meet in Moscow for talks, March 4, 2010. (Xinhua/Reuters)

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ROME, March 4 (Xinhua) — Italy began testing airport body scanners on Thursday in a move to enhance security measures following the failed Christmas Day bomb attack on a U.S. flight.

Government officials inaugurated the first scanners at Rome\’s Fiumicino international airport, reassuring passengers and citizens that the devices were both safe and convenient, state television Rai reported.

Health Minister Ferruccio Fazio was among the first ones to test the machine amid public curiosity.

\”Our research has determined that the rays emitted by body scanners pose no health risks at all,\” he said.

The scanners, which use high-frequency electromagnetic waves to look beneath clothing for concealed bombs and arms, have stirred fears that they could cause cancer or be otherwise harmful to the human body.

Another delicate issue is privacy violation by the detailed images produced by the scanners. Civil aviation chief Vito Riggio explained that particular measures had been taken in the screening process, including a shift in the personnel carrying searches and the immediate destruction of the viewed scans.

Other body scanners are expected to be installed as well at Milan and Venice\’s airports. The trial period should last six months, and during this time going through the scanners would be optional.

Italy is among the first European countries to try out the new body scanners following a request by the U.S. government. The Italian government planned to spend 2 million euros for the purchase of 15 machines. The devices are to be used for all \” sensitive\” international flights to the U.S., Britain and Israel.

In January the Interior Minister Roberto Maroni brushed aside privacy related issues, by stressing that \”air safety is a priority and the right to life comes before the right to privacy.\”

The new safety measures were also backed by Foreign Minister Frattini, who considered the scanners \”the safest tool\” against the risk of a terrorist airline attack.

Privacy is \”an absolute and inalienable right,\” he said, \”but if a person does not feel safe enough to fly, then their freedom has been denied.\”

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MOSCOW, March 4 (Xinhua) — The decision for Russia\’s incumbent Olympic chief Leonid Tyagachev to quit was a \”normal reaction to comments by Medvedev and Russian sports fans,\” said Russian President Dmitry Medvedev Thursday in a statement on his website.

The Russian Olympic Committee earlier said that Tyagachev had rendered resignation, which will be officially announced at an upcoming meeting of the committee.

Tyagachev, 63, served as sports and tourism minister before he took the post in the Olympic Committee in 2001.

Russia recorded its worst performance in Vancouver, taking only three golds, five silvers and seven bronzes to finish 11th for golds and sixth in the overall medal standings.

Medvedev on Monday called for a drastic change in the system of athlete training, as well as resignation of officials responsible for preparing Russian athletes for the Winter Olympics.

\”Those who bear responsibility for the Olympic preparations should take responsibility immediately. Those responsible should take a courageous decision and submit their resignations,\” said the president.

Also on Thursday Medvedev instructed the government to involve nongovernmental organizations in discussing the situation and draft proposals for reforming the sports management system in Russia.

Another official heavily criticized by the media, Russian sports and tourism minister Vitaly Mutko has also expressed readiness to resign ensuing Russia\’s Vancouver flop.

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