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Romanian Econ, Fin Mins, AVAS Pres To Meet Chem Prod Oltchim Mgmt Wed

Romanian ministers of Economy and Public Finance and the president of the country’s privatization authority AVAS agreed to meet the management of the state-owned chemical producer Oltchim Ramnicu Valcea SA (OLT.RO) Wednesday, to talk on taking over the petrochemical activity at Arpechim refinery.

Volksbank Romania To Shut Down Up To 20 Franchise Units In ’09 On Low Pft

Around 25 Volksbank Romania units operated in franchise system had been closed last year, the bank’s representatives estimating to shut down another 15-20 units in 2009, the lender announced Tuesday.

Volksbank Sees Romania In Crisis Until 2011

Romania will not overcome the current financial turmoil until 2011, when it might "see the light," but still offers more opportunities than other EU states and is one of the emerging markets with the most solid banking sector, Volksbank Romania's president Gerald Schreiner said Tuesday.

Romania May Resort To CEC, Eximbank If Lending Crunch Continues – Senate Speaker

Romanian authorities will assign additional funds to capitalize state-owned lenders CEC Bank and Eximbank and up guarantee funds for small and medium-sized enterprises, unless banks restart the lending activity, Senate chairman Mircea Geoana said Tuesday.

EIB Launches RON150M 7-Yr Bonds, With 12.625% Coupon

The European Investment Bank launched Tuesday a Romanian leu-denominated 7-year bond issue worth of 150 million lei (EUR1=RON4.2833), to be listed on the Luxembourg Stock Exchange.

Romania Won’t Limit Free Circulation Right Of Its Citizens – Foreign Affairs Min

Romanian foreign affairs minister Cristian Diaconescu said Monday evening in Rome, Italy, that Romania will not take any measure to limit the right to free circulation of its citizens.

Lukoil Romania Cuts Diesel Oil Pump Prices By RON0.06 Per Liter

Lukoil Romania, a unit of Russian oil company Lukoil Holdings, cut Tuesday its diesel oil pump prices by 0.06 lei (EUR1=RON4.2833) per liter and kept gasoline prices unchanged, the company said in a statement.

EC Might Start Excessive Def Procedure Against Romania Anytime- PM

Romania is not definitively free of the risk of being sanctioned by the European Commission for an excessive deficit in 2008, because the Commission can start this procedure anytime, Prime Minister Emil Boc said Monday evening.

EBRD May Grant Romania’s BCR An EUR100M Loan To Finance SMEs

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development is considering a senior loan for up to EUR100 million to Romanian lender Banca Comerciala Romana (BCR) to be on-lent by BCR to small and medium enterprises in Romania, EBRD announced Monday.

Romania’s Dacia Launches New EUR5,000 Logan Via Junk Car Program

Romanian carmaker Dacia, owned by France's Renault, on Monday said it launched a new standard version of its no-thrills Logan Sedan model, which can be bought for EUR4,995 (VAT inclusive) within the country’s car fleet renewal program “The Junk Car.”

Romanian Ctrl Bk ’09 Inflation Target, Very Likely To Be Reached

Romanian central bank’s inflation target of 3.5%, with a one percentage point variation band, for 2009 is very likely to be attained, the central bank’s governor Mugur Isarescu said Monday.

Romania’s Ctrl Bk, Govt Analyze External Loan Conditions – Ctrl Bker

The National Bank of Romania analyzes, together with Government representatives, the right amount to be borrowed from external markets, at the most favorable costs and with a reasonable payback calendar, the central bank’s governor Mugur Isarescu said Monday.

Ionut Costea Takes Helm Of Romanian Lender Eximbank

Ionut Costea is the new president of Romanian state-owned lender Eximbank, taking the helm from Carmen Radu, after the bank’s main shareholder, the country’s Privatization Authority AVAS, replaced six of the bank's seven board members.

Romanian Ctrl Bk Ready To Prevent Disruptive Movements Of Exch Rate

The National Bank of Romania, or BNR, is ready to act to prevent any disruptive adjustments of the Romanian leu, central bank governor Mugur Isarescu said Monday.

Romania ‘04-‘08 Arms Deliveries To Israel Close To EUR21M – Paper

Romania delivered weapons to Israel worth nearly EUR21 million between 2004 and 2007, according to an Amnesty International report quoted by Israeli newspaper Haaretz on Monday.

Romanian Govt To Assume Responsibility For Criminal, Civil Codes In May – Democrat Liberal VP

Romania's Government plans to assume responsibility for the four legal codes in May, and the Parliament will set up two commissions to analyze them on Tuesday, while debates on three of the codes start in the government Tuesday, said vice-president of the Democratic Liberal Party, Gheorghe Flutur.

Romanian Defense R&D Lab Blast Kills One

A blast occurred Monday at the Scientific and Defense Research Laboratory of the Romanian Ministry of Defense, killing one officer who was working there, the ministry said.

Romanian Liberals Won’t Challenge State Budget Law At Constitutional Court

Romanian opposition leader, Liberal Party head Calin Tariceanu, said Monday after a party meeting that liberals won’t contest the state budget law at the Constitutional Court because that would delay its execution.

Over 60% Of Romanian Pvt Cos To Fire Staff In ’09 – Survey

More than 60% of the private companies in Romania plan layoffs in 2009 in order to reduce costs, while 75% of them already cut their salary budgets, according to a survey of US research company Hewitt Associates.

Italian FM Asks Romania To Guarantee Romanian Delinquents Will No Longer Reach Italy

Italian foreign minister Franco Frattini asked the Romanian government to guarantee Romanian delinquents will no longer reach Italy, adding Romania is a strategic partner of Italy, Adnkronos agency reported on its website.

Poll Places Romanian Airport Henri Coanda Otopeni In Top Class Service-Wise

Romanian international airport Henri Coanda Otopeni outranked, in traveler opinion, large international airports such as Paris' Charles de Gaulle, Rome's Fumicino, London or Frankfurt, in certain aspects of service quality, according to a poll cited by the Ministry of Transport.

Lukoil Romania Cuts Diesel Oil Pump Prices By RON0.02 Per Liter

Lukoil Romania, a unit of Russian oil company Lukoil Holdings, cut Monday certain diesel oil pump prices by 0.02 lei (EUR1=RON4.2797) and kept gasoline prices unchanged.

Romania Cited In Amnesty Report Regarding Weapon Sales To Israel

Over 20 countries, including Romania, are mentioned in a report by Amnesty International regarding the export of weapons to Israel, says the online edition of Haaretz.

Romanian Leu Opens Higher Vs Euro In Line With Region

The Romanian leu opened higher against the euro Monday, following the trend of currencies on emerging markets, due to the positive trend of European stock markets.

Romanian Murder Suspect Explains Hitting The Victim

The Romanian woman suspected, together with her husband, of having killed a building administrator in Rome, Itlay, said the victim came on to her, which caused her to fight back, according to Italian media.

Romania’s Raiffeisen Bank Targeted By Phishing Attack

Clients of Romania’s Raiffeisen Bank were targeted by a phishing attack Monday, as they received an e-mail asking them to introduce their user codes on a website, so that the online service can be unlocked.

Two Romanians Hospitalized After Being Shot In Spain

Two Romanian citizens were shot and injured in Spanish town San Sebastian de los Reyes and are currently in serious condition, according to Spanish police quoted by Madridiario online.

Italian Prisons Currently Hold 2,850 Romanians

There are one million Romanians in Italy at the moment and 2,850 of them are currently under arrest, while in the first two weeks of 2009 there were deportation papers signed for 30 Romanians, according to official statistics obtained by MEDIAFAX.

Romanian Econ Min, AVAS To Aid Struggling State-Owned Cos

Romanian privatization authority AVAS and the Ministry of Economy will be able to financially support the struggling companies in the state’s portfolio through loans, subsidy and working capital infusions, as well as the increase of capital with the value of debts.

Romanian Crying Baby Dies After Being Struck By Tired Father

One eight month old baby in eastern Romanian city Galati died Sunday morning when his father, aged 50, struck him over the head to stop him from crying.

Romanian Justice Min Answers Ex PM Statements

The Romanian Ministry of Justice refused to comment the statements made by liberal leader Calin Tariceanu according to which justice minister Catalin Predoiu would resign when the four codes are adopted.

Police Raids Media Co Following Complaints Of Unlicensed Software Use

Police units descended on an office belonging to media company Inform Media, in western Romanian city Timisoara, after receiving a complaint according to which the company was using unlicensed software.

Romanian Rape Suspect Said Confession Was Coerced

Romanian citizen Alexandru Loyos Isztoika, arrested in Rome for raping a teenage girl, said he was forced by investigators to admit guilt, and he withdrew his initial statement.

Romanian, Italian interior Mins To Discuss Citizen Protection

The situation of Romanians in Italy will be discussed in the upcoming days by the Romanian and Italian interior ministers, said Romanian interior minister Dan Nica.

Romania Might Be Removed From NATO Commands, Due To Low Budget – Former Defense Min

Romania’s former defense minister Teodor Atanasiu told a press conference Friday that the Defense Ministry has the lowest budget since the country entered the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, which may cause Romania’s elimination from various NATO commands.

Romanian Car Mkr Dacia To Showcase SUV, Compact Concept At Geneva – Sources

The first SUV of Romanian car maker Dacia will be presented in the Geneva Auto Show, alongside a compact concept, whose first design details have already been unveiled, sources close to Dacia told MEDIAFAX.

Romanian Transp Min Announces “New Concept” For Hwy Construction Funding

Romanian Transport Minister Radu Berceanu told a press conference on Friday that there is “a new concept for the funding of highway construction”, which will bring more money to this sector if applied.

No Of Para-Fiscal Taxes Should Be Cut By 30%-35% – Romanian Fin Min

Romanian Finance Minister Gheorghe Pogea said Friday that para-fiscal taxes and fees should be reduced by 30-35% as they are "most of the times” in excess and hinder performances.

Romanian Foreign Affairs Min Prompted To Protect Romanian Citizens In Italy

Several Romanian NGOs sent an open letter to foreign affairs minister Cristian Diaconescu asking him to notify the Council of the European Union on the "serious violations of European legislation committed by the Italian state."

Romanian Parliament OKs 2009 State Budget

Romanian lawmakers approved Friday the 2009 state budget after four days of debates.