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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.