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Romanian Rape Suspect Said Confession Was Coerced

15:51, 21 Feb. 2009
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

14:42, 21 Feb. 2009
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

21:11, 20 Feb. 2009
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

20:03, 20 Feb. 2009
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

19:15, 20 Feb. 2009
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

18:34, 20 Feb. 2009
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

17:39, 20 Feb. 2009
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

16:22, 20 Feb. 2009
Romanian lawmakers approved Friday the 2009 state budget after four days of debates.

Romanian Finance Ministry Won’t Be Involved In Setting Local Taxes

15:56, 20 Feb. 2009
Romania's Finance Ministry will not get involved in setting local taxes, which should be based on the taxpayers’ payment possibilities, finance minister Gheorghe Pogea said Friday.

Romanian Econ Status, “Neither Very Good Nor Very Bad” – WB

15:24, 20 Feb. 2009
Romania’s economic situation is “neither very good nor very bad”, compared with the other European Union new members, while the weight of the financing deficit in the foreign currency reserves is slightly higher than the optimal level, World Bank analysts said Friday.

Romania’s Rompetrol Cuts Gas, Diesel Oil Pump Prices

15:03, 20 Feb. 2009
Romania’s Rompetrol Downstream, the fuel distribution unit of oil group Rompetrol, will cut Saturday its gasoline and diesel oil pump prices by 0.08 lei (EUR1= RON4.2797), and RON0.12 per liter, respectively, the company said in a statement.

WB Revises Dn Romania’s 09 GDP Growth Forecast, To 2% At Most

15:00, 20 Feb. 2009
The World Bank revised downwards its estimation on Romania’s economic growth in 2009, from 3.2% to 0%-2%, as prospects for growth in the region continue to deteriorate, according to World Bank economist Erika Jorgensen.

Main Suspects In Murder Of Romanian Handball Player, Extradited To Hungary

14:27, 20 Feb. 2009
Romania’s interior affairs attaché to Budapest, Ioan Bente, told MEDIAFAX that two suspects in the murder of Romanian handball player Marian Cozma will be extradited to Hungary Friday from Austria.

Snow, Gusty Wind Expected Throughout Romania Friday

12:57, 20 Feb. 2009
The code yellow warning remains in effect Friday, as the Romanian National Meteorology Authority (ANM) forecasts snowfall all over the country, except the northwest, with especially strong wind in the south, northeast and southeast.

Romania’s Govt Had To Adopt Fiscal Restrictions On Fincl Crisis – WB

12:27, 20 Feb. 2009
The Governments of Romania, Hungary, Lithuania and Estonia had no other option than to resort to rigorous fiscal restrictions, as the economic slowdown in these countries will be more severe compared with other states, the World Bank stated Friday.

Romania’s Local Car Production Dn 62% On Yr In Jan, Car Exports Dn 30%

11:11, 20 Feb. 2009
Romania’s local vehicle production, the bulk of which is contributed by Dacia, the local unit of France’s Renault, declined a sharp 62% on the year in January, to 9,482 units, while exports were down 30.7% to 8,943 units, the Automotive Manufacturers and Importers Association, or APIA, said Friday.

Romania’s Fin Min, World Bank Talk About Renewing Some Loans

10:56, 20 Feb. 2009
Romania’s Minister of Public Finance Gheorghe Pogea discussed Thursday with Orsalia Kalantzopoulos, World Bank representative for Central and South-Central Europe and the Baltic States, about renewing some loans granted to Romania by the international institution.

Romania’s New Car Tax Effective As Of Thursday

10:12, 20 Feb. 2009
Romania’s new car tax, one third lower than the value tripled at the end of last year and double compared to the level set initially in July 2008, became effective Thursday, Fen 19, when the government decree lowering the tax was published in Romania’s Official Journal.

USA To Introduce 3% Threshold On Visa Waiver Program

19:30, 19 Feb. 2009
The US Embassy in Romania receives between 150 and 350 visa requests every day in Romania, and the rejection rate for fiscal year 2008 was 25%, US General Consul James Gray told MEDIAFAX, adding that starting with July 1 the 3% refusal threshold will be reintroduced for the Visa Waiver program.

Tobacco Prod Not Consulted On Excise Duty Hike – JTI Romania

19:08, 19 Feb. 2009
Romanian cigarette producers were not consulted on the EUR14 increase of tobacco excise duty this year, and the implementation of this measure would trigger 30%-40% higher costs and would encourage smuggling, according to Japan Tobacco International (JTI).

Romanian Cos To Sack Over 43,000 People By Oct

18:09, 19 Feb. 2009
A total of 475 Romanian companies countrywide announced they would layoff 43,658 employees by October, most of them in the capital city, Bucharest.

First Tobacco, Alcohol Excise Duties Hikes On Apr 1 – Romanian Fin Min

18:07, 19 Feb. 2009
The first tobacco and alcohol excise duty hikes will take place on April 1, by EUR7/1,000 cigarettes, EUR11/ hl for fermented beverages and EUR13.96/hl for the rest of alcoholic beverages, Romanian Finance Minister Gheorghe Pogea said Thursday.

Romanian Businessman, Former Dacia Felix VP Acquitted In Fraud Case

17:42, 19 Feb. 2009
The court of law in Constanta, southern Romania, decided Wednesday evening to acquit businessman Sever Muresan and former vice-president of Dacia Felix bank, Mircea Hossu, in the case of Dacia Felix bank, in which they were charged with fraud and abuse in office.

Blaze Kills Four Romanians In Spain

16:39, 19 Feb. 2009
The mayor’s office in Spanish locality Miranda de Ebro (Burgos province) decreed three days of mourning when a fire occurring Thursday in a home resulted in the death of four Romanians, Europa Press informed online.

Dacia To Step Up Production On Demand From Germany – Union

16:33, 19 Feb. 2009
Romanian carmaker Dacia, owned by France's Renault, will up production to 1,200 units a day from currently 1,085 units, following an order wave from Germany, union official Ion Iordache said Thursday.

Romanian Tourism Ministry To Assign EUR20M To Investments In Spa Sector

16:00, 19 Feb. 2009
Romania’s Tourism Ministry will assign in the coming years some EUR20 million to participate together with local public authorities to the development of two spa projects, in Tusnad and Praid, central Romania, minister Elena Udrea said Thursday.

Imran Sentenced To 6 Years In Prison For Negligent Homicide Of Romanian Director Cristian Nemescu

15:53, 19 Feb. 2009
The Bucharest court ruled Thursday that British citizen Ali Imran will serve six years in prison after he was found guilty of negligent homicide in the case of the killing of Romanian director Cristian Nemescu.

Romanian Authorities Place Two Tents Outside Chinese Embassy

15:24, 19 Feb. 2009
The Bucharest Fire Department set up two tents in front of the Chinese Embassy in Bucharest, to shelter the Chinese citizens that have been requesting, for several weeks now, help for repatriation.

Romanian Minister Strives To Lower Prices In Tourism Sector

14:50, 19 Feb. 2009
Romanian hotel owners refuse to lower prices, saying they still rejoice plenty of tourists despite high prices, tourism minister Elena Udrea said Thursday at the 2009 International Tourism Bourse in Milan, Italy.

Romanian Cards Mkt Up 30% Y-Y, To 11.5M Units In ’08 – BCR

14:49, 19 Feb. 2009
Romanian cards market reported the biggest real growth in 2008, of almost 30%, reaching 11.5 million cards, and will register at least the same increase in 2009, according to Igor Zganjer, executive director of BCR's cards department.

Romanian Public Servants Postpone Protests, Start Talks

13:52, 19 Feb. 2009
The members of the Romanian National Union of Public Servants (SNPF) will suspend the protest actions announced for February 20 and 27, over an interval of ten days, as long as negotiations last with the Government, and if the negotiation result is good the unionists could even call off the strikes.

Romanian Social Services Employees Demand Higher Wages

13:46, 19 Feb. 2009
Members of Romanian social services and child care unions demand the same wage rights as employees of local administrations, once the unitary public sector wage law comes into effect. They ask that the status of maternal assistants be made clearer and request bonuses for special working conditions.

Romanian Govt To Back Bucharest Mayoralty In Basarab Passageway Case- PM

12:28, 19 Feb. 2009
The Romanian government will back the Bucharest mayoralty in its endeavor to have the Basarab high-level passageway declared of public utility, Prime Minister Emil Boc said Thursday, adding he already talked to Bucharest mayor Sorin Oprescu and would also look into the matter with finance minister.

Madonna To Sing In Bucharest On Aug 26

11:59, 19 Feb. 2009
Madonna will sing in Bucharest on August 26, in Izvor Park, with tickets coming on sale starting Tuesday, March 3, at prices ranging from RON120 to RON800, organizers said.

Romanian Farmers To Resume Mkt Activities Without Trade Registry Papers

20:58, 18 Feb. 2009
Romanian sheep and goat farmers can continue to sell their products in markets without the need for registration in the Trade Registry as authorized individuals, since agriculture minister Ilie Sarbu decided to amend the Order on the selling of animal origin products.

Romanian Used Car Owners Have 20 Days TO Pay Tax At Old Value

20:04, 18 Feb. 2009
Romanian owners of imported used cars who bought the vehicle before December 15, 2008, have 20 days to submit the literature needed to pay the car tax at the old value, before the tripling applied in December.

Romanian Govt Introduces Guaranteed Minimum Pension Of RON300 As Of April 1, ‘09

17:43, 18 Feb. 2009
Pensioners will have the right to a guaranteed minimum social pension of 300 lei (EUR1=RON4.2950) as of April 2009, and of RON350 from October, the Romanian government decided by an emergency ordinance in Wednesday meeting.

Romanian Govt Cuts Pollution Tax By One Third

17:23, 18 Feb. 2009
The Romanian Government reduced the pollution tax for cars by one third compared to the triple value applied starting December 15, 2008, prime minister Emil Boc announced.

Environment Commission To Ask Romanian Govt to Suspend Eco-Tax for 3-4 Months

16:52, 18 Feb. 2009
The Commission for Public Administration and the Environment with the Chamber of Deputies will ask the Romanian Government to suspend applying for 3-4 months the Emergency Ordinance which taxes plastic bags, to improve the normative act.

Romanians Accused Of Rape In Italy Are From C Romanian Brasov – Police

16:15, 18 Feb. 2009
The two Romanians charged with rape in Italy, Isztoika Loyos Alexandru, 20, and Karol Racz, 36, are from romania’s central county of Brasov, local police said.