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IKEA Romania Says Fincl Crisis Had No Effects On ’08 Sales

The financial turmoil had no negative impact on IKEA Romania's sales in 2008, but the company expects a higher pressure on the family budgets of its clients in 2009, the company's retail manager Cornel Oprisan told MEDIAFAX on Thursday.

Compensated Medicine Prices Will Drop By Some 10% – Romanian Health Min

Romanian health minister Ion Bazac announced Thursday after the meeting with distributors, producers and pharmacists that the price of compensated medicine will decrease by some 10% starting with February 1, contrary to the statements made by distributors and producers, who said prices could grow.

Romania, US Bechtel Agree To Give Up Highway Advance Payment In ‘09

Romanian Transport Ministry and U.S. construction giant Bechtel agreed to give up the advance payment for this year’s works at the country’s biggest highway project, Transylvania, Transport Minister Radu Berceanu said Thursday.

Romanian Govt Cuts Central Administration Staff By 20%

The Romanian Government will reduce by 20% the number of positions in the central public administration, representing ministries and government agencies, but the decision does not touch on the employees in the entire public sector.

Romanian Ctrl Bk Mortgage Lending Eased Rules Come Into Force

Romanian banks can accept a higher indebtedness degree for mortgage lending as they will no longer apply the stress test, according to the central bank’s new regulations published Thursday in the Official Gazette.

Romanian Govt To Base Prefect Replacement On Mobility Principle In ’09

The Romanian government removed the provision that states the positions of government inspector will be limited to at most 30% of the number of positions connected to the other public offices in the category of high public servants.

Romanian Drug Distributors Resume Deliveries, Up Prices As Of Feb 1

Romanian drug distributors said Thursday, after a meeting with health minister Ion Bazac, they would resume drug deliveries as of Feb 1, but prices will increase as of the same date, as they will be calculated at an exchange rate of 4 Romanian lei to the euro from the previous RON3.63 to the euro.

Kidnapped Romanian Released In S Nigeria

The Romanian sailor who had been kidnapped Wednesday in southern Nigeria, was released Thursday, a Nigerian military spokesperson told AFP.

Romanian Woman’s Twins Turn Out To Be Stillborn Two-Headed Son

A woman who thought was pregnant with twins had a stillborn two-headed baby with severe malformations at a maternity in Oradea, western Romania.

Romanian Tourist Lost In Australian Desert Found After Six Days

A Romanian tourist who got lost in the Australian desert was rescued after six days when he managed to contact his family in Romania on his mobile phone, The Age reported.

Romanian Agriculture Close To Disaster – Min

Romanian Agriculture Minister Ilie Sarbu on Thursday said the country’s agriculture is “nearly a disaster”, with ineffective subordinated structures despite high salaries paid to employees.

Romanian Transporters Ended Protest In Bucharest Two Hours Early

About 200 road transporters in Romania’s capital city Bucharest and surrounding Ilfov county, who protested Thursday in the Constitutiei Square near the Parliament Palace Thursday against the mayoralty’s decision to resume public transport in Ilfov, ended their protest two hours earlier.

Romanian Prosecutor Gen Asks Lawmakers’ Approval To Go After Ex PM

Romania’s prosecutor general Laura Codruta Kovesi on Thursday requested approval from the Chamber of Deputies to prosecute former premier and current legislator Adrian Nastase.

Romanian Leu Hits All Time Low For 3rd Consecutive Day At RON4.3127 Vs Euro

The Romanian central bank published Thursday an exchange rate of RON4.3127 to the euro, thus the Romanian leu touched, for the third day in a row, a fresh all-time low against the European currency.

EC Won’t Reimburse SAPARD Payments Earlier Than 3-4 Months – Minister

The European Commission won’t reimburse payments to Romania within the SAPARD program sooner than in three or four months, Romanian agriculture minister Ilie Sarbu said in a press conference Thursday.

Hundreds Of Road Transporters Protest In Bucharest

About 200 road transporters in Romania’s capital city Bucharest and surrounding Ilfov county gathered in the Constitutiei Square near the Parliament Palace Thursday to protest against the mayoralty’s decision to resume public transport in Ilfov.

Many Romanians See Country’s Economy In Recession In ’09 – Survey

More than one third of Romanians see the country’s economy in recession in 2009 and only 8% of them expect an economic growth similar to previous years, according to a survey conducted early December 2008 by Unlock Market Research.

Romanian Govt To OK ‘09 State Budget Next Thursday

The Romanian Government will approve the country’s 2009 state budget draft next Thursday, the vice-president of the Liberal Democratic Party PDL Gheorghe Flutur said after the meeting of the Ruling Coalition Coordination Bureau.

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.