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Romanian Bks Payment Refusals Up 2.6-Fold YY In Jan-Sept

Romanian banks rejected from payment promissory notes, cheques and bills of exchange totaling 6.52 billion lei (EUR1=RON4.2930) in the first nine months, up 2.6-fold from the same period in 2008, according to the country’s central bank.

Romania Gets EUR300M In WB Money – Treasury Head

Romania has received the first EUR300 million loan of a larger EUR1 billion financial package granted by the World Bank, Treasury head Laurentiu Andrei told MEDIAFAX Wednesday.

Bucharest Social Democrat Sector 2 Mayor Backs Basescu For Reelection

The social democrat mayor of Bucharest’s sector 2 said in a press release Wednesday that he supports acting President Traian Basescu for a second term and now risks exclusion for his party.

Romanian Employers To Decide On Minimum Wage After Future Govt Sets Anti-Crisis Plan

Romanian employers said Wednesday they will continue negotiations to set the minimum wage for 2010, but they will make no decision until the future Government presents them with macroeconomic figures and its anti-crisis strategy.

Romanian President Directs Majority Parties To Form Alliance

Romanian President Traian Basescu said Wednesday that the parties which have stated their majority in Parliament need to go to court to register an alliance and may then have discussions with the President, but not before the 2012 parliamentary elections.

Romanian Lawmakers Acknowledge New Majority

Romanian lawmakers adopted Wednesday 252 to two votes a political declaration acknowledging a new parliamentary majority that backs Sibiu mayor Klaus Johannis for prime minister.

Romanian Lawmakers Disapprove President’s Call For Referendum

Romanian lawmakers Wednesday voted to disapprove President Traian Basescu’s letter calling for a national referendum on November 22, along with presidential elections, to downsize the Parliament to a single chamber and maximum 300 lawmakers.

Romanian Politician Nati Meir Arrested For 29 Days Under Forgery Charges

The Bucharest Court ruled Tuesday evening to place Romanian politician Nati Meir under preventive arrest for 29 days under charges of forgery, possession and circulation of forged currency.

Romania’s Unirea Urziceni Scores First Win In Champions League With Glasgow Rangers

Romania’s champion team Unirea Urziceni scored its first victory in Champions League Tuesday evening, beating Scotland’s Glasgow Rangers 4-1 (1-1) in Glasgow, sending the Scots to the bottom of Group G.

Statute Of Limitations Rids Romanian Businessman S.O. Vantu Of Forgery Charges

The Bucharest Court of Appeals decided Tuesday, by final decision, the discontinuation of the trial on the creation of the International Bank for Development (BID), a case where businessman Sorin Ovidiu Vantu was charged with forgery.

Romanian Lawmakers Reject Request To Suspend Chamber Of Deputies’ Speaker

Romania's Chamber of Deputies committee for legal matters rejected Tuesday 14 to nine votes and one abstention the request of social democrats and liberals to suspend Chamber Speaker Roberta Anastase for 30 days.

Romanian Police Raid Nati Meir’s Firm, Seize Over 1,500 Forged EUR500 Banknotes

Romanian police officers raided the office of politician Nati Meir’s firm and confiscated 1,525 forged EUR500 banknotes, which he had used as deposits on various contracts, requesting commissions to be transferred into his accounts.

Romanian Social Democrat Leader Urges PM-Designate To Refuse Govt Leadership

Romanian social democrat leader Mircea Geoana said Tuesday social democrats, liberals, the Hungarian minority party and the group of national minorities asked designated Prime Minister Lucian Croitoru to refuse the position of prime minister and not enter a political game that is out of his league.

Romanian Business Executives Most Optimistic In CEE – Survey

Romanian executives are the most optimistic in the Central and Eastern Europe when it comes to their business outlook, with as much as 15% of managers believing the global crunch has a positive impact on their companies, according to a survey from IMAS Vienna.

Romanian PM-Designate Says He Is No Pawn, But A Solution

Romania’s designated Prime Minister Lucian Croitoru said Tuesday after a meeting with the country’s new parliamentary majority, which doesn’t endorse him, that he told them he is not a pawn in anyone’s hands but rather a solution to the country’s problems.

Romania Ranks Fourth In Deloitte’s 2009 Technology FAST 50 Central Europe Chart

Romania is ranked fourth in the 2009 edition of the Technology FAST 50 chart, compiled by audit company Deloitte with respect for the growth of revenues seen by IT companies in Central Europe between 2004 and 2008.

Romanian Rompetrol Hikes Fuel Prices By Up To RON0.08/Liter

Romania’s second-largest oil group Rompetrol, owned by Kazakhstan's KazMunayGaz, on Tuesday raised its gasoline and diesel oil prices by 0.08 lei (EUR1=RON4.2911) per liter, and RON0.07 per liter, respectively.

Romania To Get EUR300M From WB In ‘Few Days’ – Official

The World Bank will give Romania a first EUR300 million loan from a EUR1 billion financial package in “a few days,” Finance Ministry state secretary Bogdan Dragoi told MEDIAFAX Tuesday.

Romanian Senators Adopt Normative Act Regulating Sale Of ANL Homes

Romanian senators adopted Tuesday, with 44 votes in favor and 29 against, a legislative proposition to allow the sale of homes built by the National Housing Agency (ANL) at inventory prices.

Romanian Designated PM Scouts Economists For Future Government

Romanian designated Prime Minister Lucian Croitoru announced he approached several economists, including Valentin Lazea, Lucian Albu, Gheorghe Oprescu, Laurian Lungu, Aurel Dochia, with a proposition to join the government, adding some of them have not declined the offer.

Romanian Lawmakers Vote To Lift Immunity For Ex Youth Minister

Romanian lawmakers voted Tuesday 156 to five to approve a report of the Chamber of Deputies’ committee for legal matters to lift the immunity of former democrat liberal Youth and Sports Minister Monica Iacob Ridzi and have her prosecuted.

Romania Pays $5.4M Of US’ Loan, On Behalf Of Local Cotton Importers

The Romanian Government will pay from the state budget the remaining $5.4 million from a loan previously taken from the US Government for cotton acquisition by local companies, after importers refused to pay their debt.

Romanian Lawmakers Adopt Report Of Parl Committee Investigating Tourism Min

Romanian deputies unanimously adopted Tuesday the draft decision regarding the report of the parliamentray committee investigating Tourism Minister Elena Udrea, which will be sent to the Chamber of Deputies’ legal committee to further draw up a report requiring Udrea’s criminal prosecution.

Romania’s Ex Interior Minister Wants Decree Sacking Him Suspended In Court

Romania's former Interior Minister Dan Nica asked the Bucharest Court of Appeals to suspend the decree signed by the president that dismisses him from the headership of the Interior Ministry and the hearings in the case were set for November 6.

Clothing Retailer LPP Fashion Invests EUR1.5M To Open 3 New Stores In Bucharest

Polish clothing retailer LPP Fashion will open three new stores in a shopping center in Romania’s capital city Bucharest, following investments estimated at EUR1.5 million, but intends to halt expansion plans afterward because of the economic crisis, the company said Tuesday.

Romanian Politician Nati Meir Faces Three Fraud Complaints – Lawyers

One of the lawyers defending Romanian politician Nati Meir, recently detained on charges of fraud, said three people filed complaints against Meir, stressing one complaint targets the unfolding of a contract involving Meir’s election campaign song for the upcoming presidential elections.

Drunken Passenger Prompts Emergency Landing In W Romania

A Blue Air plane flying from Madrid to Bucharest made an emergency landing Monday night on the Airport in Arad, western Romania, as the flight commander decided to hand over to the authorities a drunk passenger.

Romanian Politician Nati Meir Investigated For Fraud

Romanian politician Nati Meir, who recently backed out of the presidential race, was detained Monday evening on charges of fraud.

US Vice-President To Meet With Romania’s President, PM Thursday In Bucharest

The US vice-president Joe Biden will meet Thursday, during a visit to Bucharest, with Romania’s President Traian Basescu, acting Prime Minister Emil Boc, social democrat leader Mircea Geoana and liberal leader Crin Antonescu.

Romanians To Buy Railroad Tickets Online – Draft Norm

Romanian transport minister Radu Berceanu put up for public debate the draft norms on railroad transportation, referring to the online ticket selling service.

Romanian Social Democrats Dismiss Designated PM’s Govt Seat Offer As Bogus

Romanian Social Democratic Party spokesman Bogdan Niculescu-Duvaz told MEDIAFAX Monday the designated Prime Minister Lucian Croitoru’s offer to have a social democrat head the Interior Ministry is a false offer, because he has no support in Parliament.

EBRD May Lend EUR27M To Sibiu City Hall For Infrastructure Upgrade

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development may grant a loan of up to EUR27 million to the Sibiu municipality, central Romania, over the next two years, for a complex street rehabilitation program and construction of one small road bridge, EBRD said Monday.

Romania’s Designated PM Asks Social Democrats Nominees For Interior Min

Romania’s designated Prime Minister Lucian Croitoru said Monday at the end of talks with democrat liberals he plans to ask social democrats to make two or three propositions for the leadership of the Interior Ministry.

Romania’s Public Finances Among Most Affected By Population Ageing In EU

Romania is among the EU member states whose public finances are most affected by ageing and has one of the most unsustainable public pension systems in Europe, according to the Romanian private pension association APAPR, which cites a report of the European Commission.

Romania’s Petrom Hikes Fuel Prices By RON0.7 Per Liter

Romania’s largest oil company Petrom SA (SNP.RO) on Monday raised the gasoline and diesel oil prices by 0.7 lei (EUR1=RON3.2886) per liter, following the international crude oil price increases, the company said in a statement.

Romanian Cos Cut Benefits, Employees Accept Anything Just To Get Jobs – Survey

Companies in Romania have cut down on the number of employees and reduced benefits because of the economic crisis, and employees have lowered their claims and accept roughly anything just to get a job, according to the results of a survey by Mednet Marketing Research Center released Monday.

Economic Crisis, Competition Increased Traffic On Romanian Mobile Networks

The economic crisis and stronger competition have led to 33% increased traffic on Romanian mobile networks in the first six months, compared to the end of 2008, while the number of users dropped to 24.4 million, said Monday Catalin Marinescu, head of the Romanian telecom regulator ANCOM.

China To Grant Romania EUR500,000 For Joint Econ Projects

Romania and China will sign Tuesday several agreements for bilateral collaboration, by which China will provide EUR500,000 non-reimbursable funds to projects in the SMEs and agriculture sectors, Romanian interim Prime Minister Emil Boc said Monday.

Romanian Media Market Seen At EUR350M In 2009

Romania’s media market is seen reaching some EUR350 million by yearend, according to estimates included in the Media Fact Book 2009 study, drawn up by media agency Initiative and released Monday.

President Says Romanians Are Reluctant To Sensitive Data Storage

Romania’s President Traian Basescu on Monday said Romanians, and people in all former communist countries, are more reluctant to having sensitive data monitored and stored, unlike people in other democratic countries.