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Marinov Zikolov Was Military Attache With Bulgarian Embassy

The Bulgarian Ambassador to Bucharest said Wednesday that Marinov Zikolov worked as a military attaché with the embassy from November 1998 until mid-2000, and that he did not finish his term because he returned to Bulgaria where he became a businessman.

New Suspect In Italian Rape Case Is In Romania

A third suspect in the case of the teenager raped in Rome on February 14 has been identified by Romanian authorities, as he is currently in the country, says Italian daily Il Messaggero.

Lukoil Romania Cuts Diesel Oil Pump Prices By RON0.09 Per Liter

Lukoil Romania, a unit of Russian oil company Lukoil Holdings, cut Wednesday its diesel oil pump prices by 0.09 lei (EUR1=RON4.2946) per liter and kept gasoline prices unchanged, the company said in a statement.

Train Locomotive Catches Fire In C Romania, No Victims

The locomotive of an international train on the route Budapest - Bucharest caught fire Wednesday morning between Campina and Floresti in Prahova county, central Romania.

Exchange Office Robbed In NW Romanian City Center

A currency exchange office in the center of Romania’s northwestern city of Cluj-Napoca was broken into Tuesday night. Sources within the local police said no employees were at the office at the time of the robbery.

Romanian 2008 GDP At RON504B, Up 7.1% On Year

Romania’s gross domestic product grew by a lower than expected 7.1% in 2008 to 504 billion lei (EUR1=RON4.2946), after an abrupt slowdown in the fourth quarter, the National Statistics Institute reported Wednesday.

Romanian Household Lending Flat In Jan Compared With Dec

Romanian household lending was blocked in January, as it stayed at the previous month’s level, both on the mortgage and consumer loans’, according to the central bank BNR data.

Romanian Ex-FM Appointed Ambassador To Berlin

Romanian lawmakers on Tuesday appointed former foreign minister Lazar Comanescu Ambassador to Germany’s capital Berlin.

Romanian Counterintelligence Surveillance Dates Back To ’05 – Sources

The Romanian Intelligence Service (SRI) has been monitoring, since 2005, intelligence gathering activities by foreign intelligence structures, and the General Counterintelligence Division within SRI obtained information on the existence of such operations on Romanian soil, according to SRI sources.

Kidnapped Sailors Might Be Free Shortly – Romanian SAR

The situation of the two Romanian sailors held hostage by Somali pirates could see a fortunate resolve in a few days, the head of Romanian sea search and rescuing agency ARSVOM, Dorel Onaca, said Tuesday.

EC To Speak On Romanians In Italy After Official Notice

The European Commission will issue a statement if it is informed about the status of Romanians in Italy, Michele Cercone, the EC spokesman, said Tuesday for MEDIAFAX.

Romanian Leasing Mkt Seen Dn By As Much As 30% This Year Compared To 2008

The Romanian leasing market will decrease this year by 20% to 30% from the EUR4.817 billion in financed assets posted in 2008, because of the state of Romanian economy and the unfavorable international economic environment.

Six People With Botulism Hospitalized At “Matei Bals” Institute, One Dies

Six people diagnosed with botulinus intoxication were admitted last week to the “Matei Bals” institute in Bucharest. One of them died Monday, but the others’ condition is stable, said hospital manager Adrian Streinu Cercel.

Romanian Lawmakers Amended Rules To Allow Prosecution Of Ex Ministers With Simple Majority

The Romanian Chamber of Deputies adopted Tuesday 177 to six votes and 13 abstentions amendments to the Chamber regulation, allowing lawmakers to veto the start of prosecution of former ministers with the votes of a simple majority.

European Commission To Fine Romania For Overdue Agriculture Payments

The European Commission will penalize Romania for delayed payments per hectare, possibly with EUR40-60 million, and the employees of the Agency for Payments and Intervention in Agriculture (APIA) will have to pay back part of tehir salaries, agriculture minister Ilie Sarbu said Tuesday.

Romanian Noncommissioned Officer Accused Of Treason Admits Charges

Romanian non-commissioned officer Floricel Achim, accused of treason by giving away classified information and espionage, admitted to the charges and said he sold classified information because he was in dire need of money, according to the Court motivation regarding his arrest.

EC May Resume Romania’s SAPARD Payments End-April

The European Commission may resume end-April the payments made through the SAPARD program, minister of Agriculture Ilie Sarbu said Tuesday.

Romanian Noncommissioned Officer Arrested For Treason

A noncommissioned officer of the Romanian Defense Ministry was arrested for treason and accused of having sold classified NATO information to a Bulgarian citizen, who was also arrested.

Romanian Sailors Kidnapped By Somali Pirates Are Safe And Sound – FM

The two Romanian citizens captured by Somali pirates alongside 20 other people aboard of a Greek ship in the Gulf of Aden on February 22 are in good health, Romanian Foreign Ministry’s spokesman Alin Serbanescu said Monday.

Romanian Petty-Officer, Foreign Citizen Arrested As Spies

One petty-officer within the Romanian Ministry of Defense and one foreign citizen were placed under preventive arrest for 29 days, at the proposition of organized crime prosecutors, the charges being treason through the transmission of secretes and espionage.

Romanian Delegation Talks With IMF On Potential Agreement – Sources

A Romanian delegation including central bank deputy governor Cristian Popa and Finance Ministry secretary of state Bogdan Dragoi is currently in Washington to discuss with the International Monetary Fund a potential agreement, official sources told MEDIAFAX.

Only Talks With EC On Deficit Financing Are Official – Romanian PM

The negotiations with the European Commission are the only official talks the Romanian Government is currently involved as regards its options on financing the budget deficit, the Prime Minister Emil Boc said Monday.

Romanian Liberal VP Delays Run For Party Leadership

Romanian Liberal Party (PNL) vice-president Ludovic Orban said, Monday, at the end of the party’s council meeting, that he is still running for the office of president, but that he is waiting until after the next PNL congress, which is to be held after the presidential elections.

Eleven Soldiers Tried In Romanian Weapon Heist Case

Eleven Romanian soldiers were sent to trial, in the weapon heist case at the military base Ciorogarla, under charges of theft, absence without leave and violation of the weapons and ammo regulations.

Rents For Homes In Romania Dn 15-20%, Tenants Want Contracts Renegotiated

Many tenants in Romania require the renegotiation of their rent contracts and want them adapted to the evolution of the country’s real estate sector, as new rent contracts are currently sealed for prices 15-20% lower than a few months ago, according to real estate agency EuroMetropola.

Romania’s Forex Reserves Dn EUR92M In Feb To EUR25.9B

Romania’s foreign exchange reserves decreased by EUR92 million in February to a total of EUR25.917 billion, the central bank said in a statement Monday.

Romanian Car Mkr Dacia To Present The Duster Crossover Concept In Geneva

The concept that Romanian car make Dacia will present in the Geneva Auto Show is called Duster and is a crossover combining the shapes of a coupe with those of an MPV family car, the company announced.

Romanian Govt To Present Decentralization Calendar Wednesday

Romanian Democratic Liberal Party vice-president Gheorghe Flutur said Monday after a meeting of the governing coalition that the government will present a strategy and calendar to decentralize public administration in Wednesday’s Cabinet meeting.

DNA Tests Don’t Incriminate Romanian Suspects Accused Of Rape In Rome

DNA samples collected from two Romanians charged with the rape of a 14 year-old Italian girl in Rome do not correspond with samples collected from the victim, and tests will be repeated, Libero-News.it reported.

Romanian End User Electricity Prices Might Hike In ’09 – Transelectrica

End user electricity prices might hike this year due to the decrease in consumption, Razvan Purdila, a director within Romania’s state-owned power grid operator Transelectrica, stated Monday.

Romanian Public Servants Go On Warning Strike

Members of the Romanian National Public Servants’ Union (SNFP) will go Monday on a two-hour warning strike, demanding payment of overtime and bonuses, a wage plan in accordance with the public servants’ Statute and asking for negotiations on the collective labor contract.

Witnesses Recognize Suspect Of C Romania Double Homicide

Serghei Gribenco, one of the suspects in the armed robbery and double homicide at a currency exchange office in the central Romanian city of Brasov in January, was recognized by part of the witnesses in the case, people close to the investigation told Pro TV.

Romanian Social Democrat Adrian Nastase Willing To Run For President

Romania’s former social democrat prime minister Adrian Nastase said Sunday in a press conference that he is willing to run for president this year if the party appoints him as its candidate, but wouldn’t quit the party to run independently.

Romania’s EU Convergence Program Considers Higher Retirement Age, Limited Wages, Recession

Romania’s convergence program to be sent to the European Commission sets, among others, to increase retirement age, grant limited wage hikes and halt new hiring in the public sector in 2010-2011 and considers the risk of recession after nine years of economic growth.

Romanian Rock Singer’s Liver Transplant Cheaper In Germany Than Romania – Minister

Paying for the liver transplant Romanian rock singer Cristi Minculescu will have in Germany is a means of showing respect and gratitude to a great artist, Romanian health minister Ion Bazac said Sunday, adding the procedure is cheaper in Germany than in Romania.

Over 3 Million Romanian Pensioners To Get 90% Discount On Drugs As Of March 1

Over three million Romanians with pensions of up to 600 lei (EUR1=RON4.2909) benefit, as of Sunday, of 650 types of drugs they can buy at a 90% discount.

Romania Could Hold Presidential Elections Before Dec 15 –PM

Romania could hold presidential elections before Dec 15 this year, when the president’s five-year term expires, and the head of state can be invested by Parliament afterward, Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc said late Saturday.

Romanian Senate Chairman Wants Pullout Calendar For Troops In Iraq

Romanian Senate chairman Mircea Geoana told MEDIAFAX Saturday that authorities need to agree with the United States and draw a calendar to pull out Romanian troops from Iraq.

Romanian Ed Min Promises Teachers Higher Wages, 13th Salary In March

Romanian education minister Ecaterina Andronescu told teachers Saturday in Miercurea Ciuc, central Romania, that she won’t discard her intention to increase teachers’ wages and said teachers will get a 13th salary in March at the latest.

Emergency Landing On W Romanian Airport, Passengers Safe

A plane of Romanian airliner Carpatair carrying 47 passengers to western Romanian Timisoara from Moldovan capital Chisinau managed to land safely in Timisoara Saturday morning after it had problems with a wheel before landing.