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Iliescu: Romanian President Says Allegations Of Illegal Phone Tapping Are ‘Phony’

Romanian former president Ion Iliescu on Wednesday said President Traian Basescu phoned and assured him that the allegations made by ex-Foreign Intelligence head Claudiu Saftoiu were “phony” and that the head of state does not resort to listening private conversations.

Around 50 Cos E Romania To Lay Off Over 1,400 Employees By Mar

A number of 49 companies in Romania's eastern county of Neamt will lay off 1,419 employees by March, Mecanica Ceahlau and Ga-Pro-Co Chemicals dismissing the highest number of employees, according to the county’s Employment Agency.

Romanian Foreign Intelligence Service Said It Doesn’t Tap Phones

The Romanian Foreign Intelligence Service states it “closely” observes the Constitution and the laws, adding communications are not intercepted, and the interceptions performed by concerned national authorities are used exclusively in national security matters.

Some 2,250 Workers In E. Romania Fired In Past Two Months

Some 2,250 employees in Romanian eastern county of Galati lost their jobs in the past two months, most of them following collective layoffs, the county employment agency said Wednesday.

Germany’s Siemens Eyes Two-Digit Growth In Romania In ’09

German group Siemens eyes a two-digit turnover hike this year in Romania, from EUR321 million in 2008, on development outlook in the electric power, oil and gas sectors, the company’s representatives said Wednesday.

Romania’s Rompetrol Hikes Fuel Prices By RON0.03/Liter

Rompetrol Downstream, the fuel distribution unit of Romania’s second-largest oil company Rompetrol Group NV , hiked Wednesday its gasoline and diesel oil reference prices by 0.03 lei (EUR1=RON4.3098) per liter, the company said in a statement.

Romanian Deputies Scrap Car Purchases In ‘09

Romanian deputies consider an austere budget in 2009, with zero spending on cars or furniture, lower house Speaker Roberta Anastase said Wednesday.

Romanian To Up Involvement In Civilian Ops In Afghanistan – President

Romania has met its security commitments by doubling troops part of the International Security Assistance Force, or ISAF, in Afghanistan and the country will increase its involvement in civilian operations, President Traian Basescu said Wednesday.

Romanian Foreign Affairs Min Confirms Kidnapping In Nigeria

The Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed Wednesday that a Romanian citizen has been kidnapped in Nigeria and specific procedures have been unfolded, adding details will be provided in due time.

Romanian Lender BCR Mulls Payment Delay For Laid Off Clients

The largest Romanian bank by assets Banca Comerciala Romana, or BCR, might consider postponing the payment of loan installments for a short period in case the borrowers lose their jobs, but a decision in this respect would be made individually, a BCR senior manager said Wednesday.

Romania Chamber Of Deputies Head Wants Discipline At Plenary Meetings

Romania’s Chamber of Deputies head, Roberta Anastase, said Wednesday that one of her objectives for the future parliamentary session is to render lawmakers’ attendance at plenary meetings more transparent by having their signatures scanned.

Romania Wishes To Cooperate With New U.S. Administration – President

Romania wishes to cooperate with the new administration of the United States to strengthen and reconfirm the solidity of the two nations’ transatlantic relationship, Romanian President Traian Basescu said Wednesday, adding the strategic partnership with the U.S. is essential to Romania.

Romanian Lender BCR Launches Variable Interest Loans Linked To ROBOR, EURIBOR Rates

Romanian Banca Comerciala Romana, or BCR, launched new loans with variable interest rates based on interbank indices ROBOR (Romanian Interbank Offer Rate) and Euribor (Euro Interbank Offered Rate) and also eliminated certain fees.

Romanian Social Democrat Leader Urges For Public Debate On Personal Data Storage

Social democrat leader Mircea Geoana on Tuesday said Romania still faces many suspicions about the misuse of instruments to store personal data, which should be eliminated via public debates.

Romanian Leu Indicative Rate Hits New All Time Low At RON4.3098 Vs Euro

The Romanian central bank published Wednesday an exchange rate of RON4.3098 to the euro, marking a new all-time low for the Romanian leu against the European currency.

Romanian Econ Min: Russian Gas Imports Resume As Of Wed

Romanian Economy Minister Adriean Videanu said in a press conference that Romania's gas imports from Russia resumed as of Wednesday morning.

Romania’s New Interior Minister Takes Over Portfolio

Romania’s new interior minister, Liviu Dragnea, took over his portfolio Wednesday in the presence of Senate Chairman, social democrat leader Mircea Geoana, and deputy prime minster Dan Nica.

Romanian ArcelorMittal Hunedoara Resumes Ops Early-Wed

Romanian steel mill ArcelorMittal Hunedoara resumed operations early Wednesday, after production had been halted in October 2008, the company announced.

Austria’s OMW Grants Romania’s Petrom EUR500M Loan

Romania’s dominant oil company Petrom (SNP.RO) obtained a revolving-type financing of up to EUR500 million from its main shareholder, Austrian group OMV, the company announced Wednesday in a press release.

Romanian Flamingo Mulls Closing 15 Stores In Jan, On Lower Sales

Romanian IT&C, white and brown goods retailer Flamingo International (FLA.RO) will close until the end of January around 15 small stores due to lower sales, the executive manager of Flamingo Group Jiri Rizek said Tuesday.

Romanian Pres: EC’s Forecast On ‘09 Budget Def Is Accurate If All ‘08 Laws Enforced

European Commission’s estimation on Romania’s 2009 budget deficit of 7.5% of the gross domestic product is accurate if all of the 2008-adopted laws will be applied, Romanian president Traian Basescu said Tuesday.

Bucharest Court Dismisses NGO Appeal On Tripple Car Tax

The Bucharest Court of Appeals on Tuesday summarily dismissed an appeal filed by non-government organization “The Commissariat for Civil Society” to annul an ordinance tripling the tax on used cars, as the mentioned act was already annulled.

Romanian Transporters Threaten To Protest Wednesday

Three federations of Romanian transporters said they will organize a rally Thursday, displeased with the high number of taxi authorizations granted and the resuming of public transport between capital city Bucharest and surrounding Ilfov county, which puts private minibuses out of business.

Ex PM Brings Former Govt Issues To Inner Party Battle

Romanian former prime minister Calin Tariceanu said he is displeased with the performance of the former transport minister regarding the pursuit of the contract with American company Bechtel, for the construction of the Transylvania Highway.

Romanian Telecom Data To Be Recorded Come Wednesday, Norms Pending

The draft norm setting the methodological norms to the law on the recording of data generated or processed by communication suppliers will be put up for public debate Wednesday, January 21, when the law comes into force, the Ministry of Communications said Tuesday.

Romanian Ex-PM Indicted On Influence Peddling

Romanian anticorruption prosecutors on Tuesday indicted former prime minister Adrian Nastase on charges of influence-peddling while leading the country’s leftist Social Democratic Party, or PSD.

Romanians’ Income Can Hike In Real Terms – Erste Official

Romania remains one of the Central and Eastern European countries in which population's income can increase in real terms, the chief financial officer of Austrian lender Erste Group Bank, Manfred Wimmer, said during a press conference held Monday in Vienna.

Romania Is Part Of New Heroin Distribution Network- Police Dept Head

Petre Toba, head of the Romanian General Police Department, said Tuesday that recent information indicates Romania was included in a new heroin distribution network operating from Afghanistan towards Western countries.

Competition To Sharpen On Romanian Telecom Mkt In ’09 – Report

The competition between economic operators in Romania will intensify in 2009, with companies focusing on keeping their customers, according to the report "TMT Predictions (telecom, media, technology) for 2009," published by audit company Deloitte.

Romanian Telecom Ops Compelled To Unblock Cell Phones To Other Providers – Draft Law

Romanian telecom operators might be compelled to unblock cell phones locked to any service provider, according to a draft decision of the National Communications Authority, or ANC.

Romanian Teachers Ask 6% Of GDP For Education, Threaten To Resume Protests

Romanian unionists in education on Tuesday threatened to resume protests unless the education system is assigned 6% of the gross domestic product so that teachers receive the promised 50% salary raise.

Romanian ArcelorMittal Hunedoara To Resume Ops Wed

Romanian steel mill ArcelorMittal Hunedoara might resume operations early Wednesday, after its first attempts this week failed on bad weather conditions that affected the plant’s equipments.

Romanian Leu Hits Fresh All Time Low At RON4.3025 Vs Euro

The Romanian leu touched a new all-time low on Tuesday, as the central bank computed an indicative rate of RON4.3025 to the euro.

Romanian Govt, Social Partners Continue Talks On Anti-Crisis Measures

The Romanian government and its social partners, namely unions and employers’ associations, continued talks Tuesday regarding anti-crisis measures and proposals aiming to help the country better cope with the economic crisis.

Romanian Tranp Min Wants Cluj-Bors Highway Section Complete By 2012

Romanian transport minister Radu Berceanu said Tuesday, ahead of a meeting with official off U.S. constructor Bechtel, that he wants the Cluj-Bors segment of the country’s Transylvania Highway completed by 2012.

Romanian President Signs Decree Appointing New Interior Minister

Romanian president Traian Basescu signed Tuesday the decrees dismissing deputy prime minster Dan Nica from the position of interior minister and appointing Liviu Dragnea instead, the president’s office said.

Romanian Transgaz Not Yet Notified On Resumed Russian Gas Imports

Romania's state-owned gas pipeline operator Transgaz (TGN.RO) has not been notified yet on Russia’s resuming of gas imports halted for almost two weeks now, the manager of the company’s commercial supply unit Marius Stroia told MEDIAFAX Tuesday.

Fin Crisis To Lower Romanian Insurers’ Pft Margins – CFA Romania

Local insurers need to adapt their business model to the new economic outlook caused by the financial crisis, which will decrease profit margins and reduce the number of potential clients, the head of CFA Romania, Dragos Cabat, said Tuesday.

Romanian Tennis Player Andrei Pavel Ends Career At 35

Romanian tennis player Andrei Pavel announced he is ending his sports career after he abandoned an Australian Open match against Andy Murray because of severe back pain.

Romanian Prognosis Comm Sees ’09 Avg Leu Exch Rate At RON4 Vs Euro

The National Prognosis Commission, or CNP, sees the average exchange rate of the Romanian leu at RON4 against the euro, weaker than the RON3.6 to the euro exchange rate it predicted in October 2008, the commission said Monday in an interim forecast.