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Swiss ‘Yes’ To EU Free Labor Comes With A 7-Yr Catch For Romanians

18:58, 09 Feb. 2009
Switzerland’s positive vote in a referendum to prolong an EU free labor agreement and extend free movement for bloc newcomers Romania and Bulgaria does not automatically give Romanians a free pass on the labor market, Swiss ambassador to Bucharest, Livio Hurzeler said Monday.

Romanian Fin min Meets With Disgruntled Researchers

17:56, 09 Feb. 2009
Romanian finance minister Gheorghe Pogea met Monday with the representatives of the Federation of Unions for Research – Design Workers, who are displeased with the research budget for 2009 and propose that in 2010 research receive a budget separate from the one allotted to education.

Three Arrested In Romanian Handball Player Murder

16:24, 09 Feb. 2009
Police in the southern province of Styria, tipped off by their Hungarian counterparts, stopped a vehicle with Hungarian plates Sunday evening on the A2 motorway near Fuerstenfeld, on the way to Italy, local police said, quoted by AFP.

Dan Nica Doesn’t Need Parliament Approval To Be Deputy PM And Interior Minister

15:54, 09 Feb. 2009
The standing offices of the two chambers of the Romanian Parliament decided Monday that interim interior minister Dan Nica, who is also deputy prime minister, doesn’t need Parliament approval to become interior minister.

Romanian Govt Ratified Memo On Keeping Troops In Iraq

15:14, 09 Feb. 2009
The Romanian government ratified, by emergency decree, the Memorandum of Understanding with the Iraqi government regarding the continued presence of 350 Romanian troops in Iraq in 2009.

Romanian Businessman Dinu Patriciu Wins Trial Against Intelligence Service

15:10, 09 Feb. 2009
The Bucharest Court of Appeals maintained the decision of a lower court which obligated the Romanian Intelligence Services to pay businessman Dinu Patriciu moral damages for illegal tapping.

Romanian Plane Mkr IAR Ghimbav Lacks Clients, Workers Go Back Home

14:01, 09 Feb. 2009
Some 220 employees of Romanian plane maker IAR Ghimbav reentered technical unemployment Monday, and the representatives of employees plan to meet with economy minister Adriean Videanu at the end of the week.

Autopsy Of Romanian Handball Player Killed In Hungary Performed Today

14:00, 09 Feb. 2009
The autopsy of Romanian handball player Marian Cozma, murdered in Hungary, will be performed today (Monday – e.n.), as this is necessary to enable his repatriation, Romania’s attaché for Interior Affairs in Budapest, Ioan Bentze, told MEDIAFAX.

Romanian Bankers Ask Ctrl Bk To Change Some Rules

13:48, 09 Feb. 2009
Romanian bankers asked the central bank to change the regulations for write-downs, the foreclosure period, payments rescheduling and minimum reserve ratios as regards credit lines, Romanian Banks’ Association ARB president Radu Ghetea said Monday.

Romania Targets Leu Exchange Rate Stability – Ctrl Bker

13:41, 09 Feb. 2009
A stable exchange rate of the Romanian leu and its correlation with macroeconomic indicators would be in the Romanian Government, economy and banks' best interest, central bank governor Mugur Isarescu said Monday.

Romania’s Ctrl Bk Sold EUR1B To Drain Excess Liquidity

13:02, 09 Feb. 2009
The National Bank of Romania, or BNR, has lately sold EUR1 billion to drain excess liquidity after the Treasury exchanged foreign currency into Romanian lei to cover last year’s deficit, central bank governor Mugur Isarescu said Monday.

Budget Def Financing At Moderate Costs, Essential For Romania – Ctrl Bker

12:35, 09 Feb. 2009
Financing the budget deficit at reasonable costs is essential for Romania under the current circumstances, as even covering a low level, of 2% of the gross domestic product, may prove to be difficult, central bank governor Mugur Isarescu said Monday.

Hungarian Police Find Another Suspect In Murder of Romanian Handball Player

11:29, 09 Feb. 2009
The Hungarian Police arrested another suspect in the murder of Romanian handball player Marian Cozma, Romania’s attaché for interior affairs in Budapest, Ion Bentze, told MEDIAFAX.

Grenade, Bullets Found On Bucharest-Vienna Train

11:22, 09 Feb. 2009
A grenade and several bullets were found Sunday night on the Bucharest-Vienna international train, which was halted for customs check at Curtici, western Romania, the Transport Ministry said in a statement.

Romania 08 Trade Deficit At EUR22.5B, Up 3.4% On Yr

10:28, 09 Feb. 2009
Romania’s trade deficit was up 3.4% in 2008 to EUR22.5 billion, from EUR21.7 billion in 2007, but exports grew at a higher pace than imports, the National Statistics Institute reported Monday.

Romanian Carmaker Dacia Resumes Prod Monday

09:47, 09 Feb. 2009
Romanian carmaker Dacia resumed production Monday, after the fourth interruption of the activity for two weeks in Mioveni, southern Romania, due to the extreme drop in local and global demand.

One Suspect Found In Killing Of Romanian Handball Player

08:07, 09 Feb. 2009
One of the suspects in the killing of Romanian handball player Marian Cozma was caught, Sport Minister Monica Ridzi said on television station Realitatea TV.

People Pay Tribute To Romanian Player Killed In Veszprem

20:44, 08 Feb. 2009
Hundreds of people gathered in front of the sports hall in Szeged, while many others gathered in other several cities Hungary to show their solidarity with the family of the Romanian handball player of Veszprem team, Marian Cozma, who was stabbed in the heart Saturday night.

Romanian MEP Rares Niculescu, Assaulted In A Club

20:37, 08 Feb. 2009
Democrat liberal MEP Rares Niculescu, nominated for spokesperson of Romania’s Government, said he was assaulted by several people when he entered a club in Cluj Napoca, northwestern Romania, but gendarmes applied him a fine for having caused the scandal.

Attackers Mistook Cozma For Someone Else – Veszprem Club President

18:54, 08 Feb. 2009
Akos Hunyadfalvy, head of the handball club Veszprem, said clues show that the attackers of Romanian handball player weren’t locals and they mistook him for someone else.

School Should File Complaint Against Wizz Air Operator – Romanian Education Min

18:36, 08 Feb. 2009
Romanian Education Minister Ecaterina Andronescu asked the high school whose students were blocked for 17 hours on the Luton airport near London to file a complaint at the National Authority for Consumer Protection against flight operator Wizz Air, that is responsible for the situation.

Magyars Protest Against Romania’s Govt Policy In Chief Appointments – Mayor

18:09, 08 Feb. 2009
Antal Arpad, former deputy of the Magyar Democratic Union In Romania and mayor of Sfantu Gheorghe, said Sunday the Magyars’ protest in Sfantu Gheorghe, central Romania, meant to express disapproval with the Government’s desire to split 50-50% the leadership positions in Covasna.

Romanian Border Police Seized Over 45 Tons Of Perfume In Dec, Jan

16:44, 08 Feb. 2009
Over 45 tons of smuggled perfumes worth nearly EUR1.6 million, destined to Europe’s black market, were seized in the past two months by the border police in Arad, western Romania.

Increase of Romanian Presidency Budget Is A Diversion – Liberal VP

14:59, 08 Feb. 2009
Vice-president of Romania’s National Liberal Party, Puiu Hasotti, told MEDIAFAX Sunday that Prime Minister Emil Boc and President Traian Basescu have agreed to increase the budget of the presidency, so that the head of state could afterwards ask the Government and the Parliament to lower his budget.

Romanian Handball Player Marian Cozma Killed In Hungary

13:34, 08 Feb. 2009
Romanian handball player Marian Cozma, aged 26, was killed Saturday night in a club in Veszprem, Hungary. Serbian Zarko Sesum and Croatian Ivan Pesic, other two players of the team MKB Veszprem, were involved in the incident.

Children Blocked On Airport Near London, Awaiting Flight Back To Romania

12:49, 08 Feb. 2009
A group of students, mainly belonging to I.L. Caragiale high chool in Bucharest are blocked on Luton airport near London and are waiting for the Wizz Air flight to bring them back to Romania.

Romanian Environment Min Finds Hundreds EU Fund Applications In Bathroom

18:25, 07 Feb. 2009
Romanian Environment Minister Nicolae Nemirschi told a press conference Saturday that over 350 files submitted by mayors asking for European funds to set up parks or green spaces were found in a bathroom on the first flour of the Environment Ministry.

Global Warming Will Make Desert-Like Soil In Romania – Environment Min

17:17, 07 Feb. 2009
Romania’s grain production will drop 40% compared to the current, and ten counties in the country will have arid soil due to the global warming in the next 20 years, Environment Minister Nicolae Nemirschi said Saturday.

Romanian Social Democrats Pushed For Pension Hikes – Social Democrat Leader

16:27, 07 Feb. 2009
If the social democrats weren’t part of Romania’s current government, pensions wouldn't have been hiked, while people with low incomes would have had their salaries frozen on the entire economic crisis period, Social Democratic Party head Mircea Geoana said Saturday.

Romanian Govt Should Support Local Unit Of Ford – Social Democrat Head

15:36, 07 Feb. 2009
Head of Romania’s Social Democratic Party, Mircea Geoana, said Saturday that the Government should consider an integrated set of measures supporting the local unit of American carmaker Ford, which forms, together with Romanian carmaker Dacia, “the pillar” of the local auto industry.

Gorbunov Still Suspect In Romanian Double-Homicide Case, After First Hearings

14:17, 07 Feb. 2009
Moldovan citizen Serghei Gorbunov, who was heard by prosecutors Friday as witness in the double homicide occurring at an exchange office in Brasov, central Romania, is still on the suspects’ list.

Romania’s Petrom, Canada’s Sterling Leased Blocks Overlap Area Disputed At Hague – Ex Agency Head

20:22, 06 Feb. 2009
Romania’s dominant oil company Petrom (SNP.RO) and Canada’s Sterling Resources obtained the lease of some oil perimeters overlapping the surface of continental plateau won by Romania in its Hague trial, Bogdan Gabudeanu, the former head of Romania’s Mineral Resources Agency ANRM, said Friday.

Romanian Ctrl Bk Bought EUR10B In ’05-’07 Period

19:37, 06 Feb. 2009
The National Bank of Romania, or BNR, bought around EUR10 billion from the inter-bank market, between 2005 and 2007, to balance the leu exchange rate, central bank governor Mugur Isarescu said Friday.

Italian Police Arrests Romanian Attempting To Rape Italian Woman

19:17, 06 Feb. 2009
A Romanian, aged 19, was arrested in Rome suburbs after being caught trying to rape an Italian woman, La Repubblica said in Friday’s online edition.

Romanian Double Homicide Suspect Heard By Prosecutors

17:06, 06 Feb. 2009
The prime suspect in the double homicide at an exchange office in central Romanian city Brasov was heard Friday by prosecutors within the Brasov Court of Appeal, court spokesperson Ramona Diaconu told MEDIAFAX.

Four Tons Of Cocaine Bound For Romania, Seized In Brazil

16:27, 06 Feb. 2009
The Brazilian police seized Thursday in Paranagua port four tons of cocaine bound for Romania, hidden inside lumber containers, television station Globo said.

Romanian State-Owned Subway Co Gets New Chief

15:54, 06 Feb. 2009
The shareholders of Romanian state-owned subway company Metrorex appointed former Bucharest infrastructure and public services chief Gheorghe Udriste in the position of general manager of the company.

Romania Must OK Any Transfer Of Rights In Canada’s Sterling Deal

15:20, 06 Feb. 2009
Canada’s Sterling Resources will not be able to transfer, either in full or in part, any of the rights, privileges or obligations undertaken in the agreement with Romania’s Mineral Resources Agency ANRM, to any person or company, without the prior written consent of the agency.

Sterling To Pay Romania Oil Dues Worth 3.5%-13.5% Of Gross Prod

15:15, 06 Feb. 2009
Canadian company Sterling will pay the Romanian state quarterly oil dues between 3.5% and 13.5% of the value of gross production of crude oil and gas, depending on the volume of production, computed based on reference prices set up by Romania’s Mineral Resources Agency ANRM, according to the Oil Law.

Spanish Police Arrests 19 Romanians Under Exploitation Charges

15:05, 06 Feb. 2009
Nineteen Romanians were arrested in Spanish cities Barcelona and Valencia, suspected of having exploited 27 other Romanians, by forcing them into labor or begging, according to the Spanish Ministry of Interior, quoted by AFP.