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Romanian Leftist Ex-PM Wants Court Day To Prove Innocence

Romanian social democrat MP Adrian Nastase said Friday in a debate on the amendment of the Constitution that he will ask the Parliament to recommend the sending of his criminal investigation files to court.

Romania Granted Sterling Exclusive Oil Drilling Rights In Black Sea Blocks

The appendix of the oil drilling contract closed between Romania’s Mineral Resources Agency ANRM and Canadian company Sterling Resources stipulates the exclusive right of drilling operations on two Black Sea oil resources blocks.

Monetary Policy Cannot Be Eased Until Fiscal Constraints Become Effective – Romanian Ctrl Bker

The National Bank of Romania, or BNR, will not further ease the monetary policy until fiscal constraints and salary restriction measures become effective, the central bank governor Mugur Isarescu said Friday.

Lukoil Romania Hikes Gasoline Prices, Keeps Diesel Oil Prices Unch

Lukoil Romania, a unit of Russian oil company Lukoil Holdings, hiked Friday its gasoline prices by up to 0.29 lei (EUR1=RON4.2872), keeping the diesel oil prices unchanged, the company announced.

Romanian Ctrl Bk Keeps ’09 Inflation Forecast Of 4.5%

The National Bank of Romania, or BNR, maintained its forecast for the 2009 inflation rate at 4.5%, the central bank governor Mugur Isarescu said Friday.

Romania’s ’09 Budget Draft To Be Debated By Parliament’s Commissions In 10 Days

Roberta Anastase, the president of Romania's Chamber of Deputies, said Friday that the 2009 state budget draft was sent to the Parliament and will be debated by the two chambers’ commissions in about 10 days.

Romanian, Ukrainian Presidents Discuss ICJ Decision

Romanian president Traian Basescu held a telephone conversation with Ukrainian president Viktor Yushchencko, in which they both agreed that the two countries will observe the decision reached by the International Court of Justice in the maritime delimitation case.

Romanian Pvt Sector Wages To Drop In ’09, Hit Consumption – Analysts

The salaries of employees in the Romanian private sector will have a negative evolution this year, in real terms, which will fuel a significant decrease in consumption, analysts said, adding a drop in salaries, in nominal terms, is not out of the question.

Romanian Govt Ponders Freezing Dignitary Wages In ’09

The Romanian government proposes the freezing of salaries in 2009 for dignitaries and positions assimilated to public dignities.

Romanian PM, Canada’s Sterling Agree To Declassify Exploration Contract

Romania’s Prime Minister Emil Boc announced Thursday the declassification of the additional contract signed between the country’s Mineral Resources Agency ANRM and Canada’s Sterling Resources.

Romanian Pwr Plant Rovinari Checked For Bribe By Prosecutors

Romania’s National Anticorruption Department DNA started to verify the accusations made by a former financial manager with an US California-based plant, who claimed to have bribed the representatives of state-run thermal power producer Rovinari to get some contracts.

Romanian Govt Oks ’09 Draft Budget

The Romanian government approved the 2009 draft budget, which will be sent to Parliament Friday, government sources told MEDIAFAX Thursday.

Romanian PM Dismisses Energy, Consumer Protection Auth VPs

The vice-president of Romania’s National Energy Authority ANRE, Carmen Filipescu, and the vice-president of the National Authority for Consumer Protection ANPC, Gheorghe Ciubotaru, were dismissed, by the prime minister, on request

Romanian Leu Up Vs Euro, Most Appreciated In the Region

The Romanian currency gained almost 1% against the euro on Thursday and was the most appreciated currency in the region, dealers suspecting the central bank stepped into the market to support the leu.

Rompetrol Denies Relation With Black Sea Blocks Issue, Accuses “Political Manipulation”

Dinu Patriciu, the general manager of Romania's oil group Rompetrol, Thursday denied any connection between him or Rompetrol group and the Black Sea blocks issue, and said the recent media frenzy is a "political manipulation."

Romanian Rompetrol Well Services Administrator Resigns

Nicolae Vidu, an administrator of Romanian Rompetrol Well Services, a unit of country's second-largest oil company Rompetrol Group NV, resigned Thursday, on eliminating any speculations regarding the connection between Rompetrol, Sterling Resources and Midia Resources, Rompetrol group said.

Romanian Prosecutor Heads Roll In Convict Escape Aftermath

Romania’s High Council of Magistrates decided, by majority of votes, to dismiss first-prosecutor within the Dolj Court Gheorghe Stoian, assistant prosecutor Tena Moraru and chief-prosecutor within the Judicial Department of the Dolj Court, Ioana Sandu.

Over 1,200 People To Lose Job Until March In S Romania

Over 1,200 employees in Constanta county, southern Romania, will remain jobless after the first months of 2009.

Romanian Agric Min Finds Flaws In Agric Payment Agency Procedures

The computer system of the Romanian Agency for Payments in Agriculture, used for the processing of payment requests, is flawed, file completion deadlines are pushed back and employee attributions overlap, according to an analysis of the Ministry of Agriculture.

Cos In Suceava County, NE Romania, Fired 1,800 People In Dec, Jan

About 1,800 employees in Romania’s northeastern county of Suceava were laid off in December and January, most of them working in the wood manufacturing and constructions sectors, or in furniture and bearings production.

Dacia Concept To Be Showcased In Geneva, Web Teasers Real – Sources

Romanian carmaker Dacia, unit of French Renault, will unveil a concept car at the Geneva show in March, derived from the Sandero hatchback, sources with Dacia-Renault plant said Thursday.

Romanians To Benefit From Interactive Website For Telecom Tariff Comparison

Romania’s National Communications Authority (ANC) will set up an auction to acquire a web application allowing clients or future subscribers of telecom operators to compare tariffs and conditions for use of fixed and mobile telephony services, as well as Internet services.

Romanian Forestry Co Romsilva To Lay Off 1,000 Employees In 2009

Romanian forest administration company Romsilva will lay off at least 1,000 employees this year, following forests reconveyance and reorganization, the company’s general manager, Florian Munteanu, said Thursday.

Romanian Ctrl Bk Rate Cut Impact Deemed Modest – Analysts

Romanian central bank’s decision to cut the key rate will not have a significant impact upon inter-bank interest rates that will have been slashed more aggresive if the central bank would have reduced the minimum required reserves ratios for leu liabilities, economic analysts said Wednesday.

Romanian Trans Min Blames Ex-Min For Roads Authority’s ‘Difficult’ Situation

Romania’s public roads authority CNADNR might see its accounts blocked over unpaid debts, said Transport Minister Radu Berceanu, who blames former minister Ludovic Orban for this situation.

Romania’s RomTelecom May Buy Boom TV For EUR50M – Sources

Romania's largest fixed-line operator RomTelecom, majority-owned by Hellenic Telecommunications Organization, or OTE, might take over digital satellite television Boom TV, operated by DTH Television Group, for EUR50 million, sources close to the matter told MEDIAFAX on Wednesday.

IMF Advises Romania To Further Cut Budget Spending

The International Monetary Fund, or IMF, advised the Romanian authorities to harshen fiscal policy by significantly cuts in public spending, as revenues for 2009 are unpredictable and grounded on a too optimistic economic growth forecast, governmental sources told MEDIAFAX.

Romanian Liberals To Hold Congress On March 20-21

The Standing Delegation within the Romanian National Liberal Party decided Wednesday, with a wide majority of votes, to call an extraordinary party congress on March 20-21, said party president Calin Tarceanu.

Romanian PM Sacks Min Resources Agency Head, Calls For Lease Contract Declassification

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc sacked the head of Mineral Resources Agency ANRM, Bogdan Gabudeanu, and asked for the declassification of the government decision approving the appendix of the Black Sea reserves lease contract.

IMF: Romanian Economy May Shrink In ‘09

The International Monetary Fund, or IMF, said Wednesday that Romania’s economy might shrink in 2009, due to a severe weakening in all economic areas.

Romanian Environ Min Checks Only Environment Aspects In Govt Decisions On Lease Contracts

Romanian Environment Ministry only checked the environment aspects in the appendix of the Black Sea reserves lease contract, according to the law, without knowing the nature of the contract, former environment minister Korodi Attila stated Wednesday.

Michelin To Reduce Production At Two Romanian Units In Feb

Michelin Romania, the local division of French tire maker Michelin Group, will halt production on Saturdays, Sundays and Mondays in February at Silvania plant and on Sundays at RomSteel Cord, both located in Zalau, northwestern Romania, sources close to the matter said Wednesday.

Romanian Rompetrol Case Could Be Sent To Constitutional Court

Attorneys in the case of Dinu Patriciu, the chief executive of Dutch-registered oil company Rompetrol, requested Wednesday the suspension of trial and the file might be sent to the Constitutional Court to clear certain aspects in the Criminal Procedure Code and Capital Market Law.

Black Sea Reserves Lease Contracts Extended By All Romanian Govts – Ex-Ruling Party

The contracts on the Black Sea reserves lease were signed by the government in 1992, and subsequently extended by all Romanian governments, according to a press release of the National Liberal Party, or PNL, part of the former governing coalition.

Over 130 Questioned In Romanian Weapon Heist

Romania’s prosecutor general Codruta Kovesi said Wednesday more than 130 people are heard in the investigation regarding the disappearance of weapons from the military base at Ciorogarla, near capital city Bucharest.

Romanian Govt Should Clear Up Black Sea Reserves Lease Issue – Upper House Speaker

Mircea Geoana, the Senate Speaker and the president of Romania's Social Democratic Party, stated Wednesday that the government should clear up the secret Black Sea reserves lease granted at the end of the former government’s mandate.

Romanian Ctrl Bk Cuts Key Rate By 0.25 Pps To 10%, Keeps Min Req Reserves Ratios

The Romanian central bank decided to cut the key rate by 0.25 percentage points to 10%, meeting analysts expectations, and kept the minimum required reserves ratios unchanged, the central bank announced Wednesday.

Romania’s Agent At ICJ Becomes State Secretary With Foreign Affairs Ministry

Bogdan Aurescu, Romania’s agent in the trial against Ukraine at the International Court of Justice in The Hague, was appointed state secretary with the Foreign Affairs Ministry, by decision of Prime Minister Emil Boc.

Over 300 Romanian Cos To Can 33,837 Jobs Feb-May – Employment Agency

Over 300 companies, mostly from the private sector, announced they would scrap a total 33,837 jobs countrywide, February through May, according to centralized data of the Romanian National Employment agency.

Romanian Electricity Prices Should Hike – E.ON

Romanian electricity prices should be higher, E.ON Romania’s general manager Frank Hajdinjak said Wednesday in a press conference.