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Romanian Ruling Coalition, Opp Parties Argue On ’09 Budget

13:20, 13 Feb. 2009
Romanian senators and deputies with the ruling coalition and the opposition parties in the Parliament's budget and finance commissions argued Friday during the general debates on 2009’s budget draft.

Romania May Take A Decision On IMF Loan In 2 Wks

13:14, 13 Feb. 2009
Romania might take a decision regarding an agreement with the International Monetary Fund, or IMF, in two weeks at most, the country’s Finance Minister Gheorghe Pogea said Friday.

Romanian Govt Says Pvt Pension Contribution Freeze In ’09 Is Temporary, Needed To Cover Deficit

12:52, 13 Feb. 2009
The Romanian government justified the keeping of contributions to mandatory private pensions at 2% this year by the need to control the deficit of the public pension system, adding the measure is temporary.

Romania’s 1Q GDP Growth Seen Below 1% – Fin Min

12:26, 13 Feb. 2009
Romania’s economic growth will be below 1% in the first quarter of 2009, the country’s Finance Minister Gheorghe Pogea said Friday.

Handball Player Murder Suspect Sztojka Ivan Turned Himself In

09:35, 13 Feb. 2009
Sztojka Ivan, one of the suspects in the killing of Romanian handball player Marian Cozma, turned himself in to the Veszprem police Thursday night, Hungarian media reported.

Some 70-75 Km Of Hwy To Be Complete This Year – Romanian Transport Min

21:02, 12 Feb. 2009
Romanian transport and infrastructure minister Radu Berceanu said Thursday in a press conference that 70-75 kilometers of highway will be completed this year.

Third Suspect In Handball Player Murder Set To Turn Himself In

20:36, 12 Feb. 2009
Ivan Sztojka, the man sought in the murder of Romanian handball player Marian Cozma, sent a letter to his mother, in which he wrote he will turn himself in and he is innocent.

Econ Crisis Will Kill Some 40% Of Romanian SMEs – SME Min

19:53, 12 Feb. 2009
The Romanian minister in charge with small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), commerce and the business environment, Constantin Nita, said Thursday some 40% of SMEs will have problems this year and could go bankrupt because of the economic crisis.

Romanian Rompetrol Rafinare ’08 Losses Up 130% Y-Y, To $267M

19:33, 12 Feb. 2009
Romania’s Rompetrol Rafinare (RRC.RO), the refining unit of the country's second-largest oil company Rompetrol Group NV, posted $266.8 million in consolidated losses in 2008, more than double compared with $116.2 million in 2007, the company announced Thursday.

Romania’s Bechtel Contract To Cease If Negotiations Fail – Transp Min

19:21, 12 Feb. 2009
Romania’s Transport and Infrastructure Ministry will cease the contract inked with US Bechtel for the construction of the Brasov-Bors highway if negotiations for signing a protocol that changes some clauses fail, the minister in charge, Radu Berceanu, said Thursday.

Romania’s Transp Min Hires Back Some GMs Dismissed End-2008

19:20, 12 Feb. 2009
Romania’s Transport Minister Radu Berceanu hired back part of the 31 managers of subordinated companies he dismissed when taking over his mandate, as some of them accepted lower salaries, while no replacers were found for other.

Romania’s CFR Marfa Sale No Longer Opportune Due To Losses – Transport Min

19:19, 12 Feb. 2009
Privatization of Romanian rail freight company CFR Marfa is no longer suitable, as the company switched to losses, and the top priority is now redressing the state-owned company's financial situation, Transport and Infrastructure Minister Radu Berceanu said Thursday.

Romania’s CFR May Pay Debts To Pwr Suppliers If Sacking 6,000 People – Transp Min

19:10, 12 Feb. 2009
The number of employees in Romanian railway company CFR has to be cut by 6,000 persons, from the current 28,000 people, and the respective salary funds should be redirected towards reimbursing the company’s debts to power suppliers, Transport Minister Radu Berceanu said Thursday.

Romanian Double Homicide Suspect Claims Innocence

16:30, 12 Feb. 2009
One of the suspects in the double homicide case in central Romanian city Brasov, Serghei Gorbunov, told media Thursday, in the Aiud Penitentiary, that he is innocent, reiterating the statement that during the attack he was in the gym, training.

Romanian Rock Band Iris Frontman Needs Liver Transplant

15:13, 12 Feb. 2009
Cristi Minculescu, the lead singer of Romanian rock band Iris, is suffering from polycystic liver and kidney disease and needs a liver transplant, and his wife is a potential donor.

Romanian Sheep Breeders, Vet Authorities To Start Negotiations Monday

14:44, 12 Feb. 2009
Representatives of Romanian sheep and goat breeders and officials of the sanitary veterinary authority ANSVSA on Thursday agreed to start talks on Monday with respect to the laws regarding hygienic norms for food produced by shepherds.

EC Report: Romania’s Pace Of Progress Has Not Been Maintained

14:37, 12 Feb. 2009
The European Commission said in the report on Romania’s justice system, presented Thursday, that the pace of progress has not been maintained and suggested that the Romanian authorities regain momentum on judicial reform and the fight against corruption.

EC Report: Romania Must Prove Efficiency By Speeding Up Treatment Of High-Level Corruption Cases

14:25, 12 Feb. 2009
The European Commission’s report on Romania’s justice system, presented Thursday, notes that it will be crucial for Romania to achieve significant and irreversible progress by summer and the country must speed up its treatment of high-level corruption cases.

EC Report: Romanian Anticorruption Dept Continues Positive Track

14:18, 12 Feb. 2009
The European Commission’s report on Romania’s justice system, presented Thursday, states that the country’s Anticorruption Department DNA continues to show a stable and positive track record for prosecuting cases of high-level corruption.

Romanian Tourism Min Holds Auction For National Brand

13:52, 12 Feb. 2009
Romanian tourism minister Elena Udrea announced Thursday she wants the auction for Romania’s national tourism brand to be international, and it will be organized as soon as the budget is approved.

EC Presents Justice Reports On Romania, Bulgaria

13:30, 12 Feb. 2009
The European Commission adopted Thursday the report regarding reform in the justice system for Romania and Bulgaria, EC spokesman Johannes Laitenberger said in the opening of the presentation conference.

Lukoil Romania Cuts LPG Price, Hikes COR 95 Gasoline Price

11:46, 12 Feb. 2009
Lukoil Romania, a unit of Russian oil company Lukoil Holdings, cut Thursday its liquefied petroleum gas, or LPG, price by 0.04 lei (EUR1=RON4.2729) and hiked its COR 95 unleaded Euroluk gasoline price by RON0.08, respectively, the company announced.

Placebo Include Romania In Sixth Album Release Tour

10:50, 12 Feb. 2009
Placebo returns to Romania, as promised, for a concert in Bucharest on June 21, organizers One Event said.

Romanian ’08 FDI At EUR9.02B, Up 24.4% Y-Y – Ctrl Bk

10:40, 12 Feb. 2009
Foreign direct investments (FDI) in Romania rose to EUR9.02 billion in 2008, up 24.4% on the year, the central bank said Thursday.

Romania’s ’08 Curr Acct Gap Widens 1.2% To EUR16.87B

10:18, 12 Feb. 2009
Romania’s current account deficit rose by 1.2% in 2008 to EUR16.87 billion, from EUR16.67 billion in the previous year, mainly driven by a higher trade deficit, the central bank said in a statement Thursday.

Romania’s Jan Inflation +1.24% M-M, Annual CPI Widens To 6.71%

10:11, 12 Feb. 2009
Romanian consumer price index rose by a higher than expected 1.24% in January, compared with the previous month, and the annual inflation widened to 6.71%, from 6.3% end-December, the National Statistics Institute, or INS, reported Thursday.

Romanian Rock Band Iris Frontman In Germany For Medical Tests

10:08, 12 Feb. 2009
Cristi Minculescu, the lead singer of Romanian rock band Iris, is currently in Germany for medical tests regarding a hereditary illness, band drummer Nelu Dumitrescu, told MEDIAFAX.

Romanians Subject To Discrimination By Magyar Auth In C Romania –President

09:52, 12 Feb. 2009
Romanian President Traian Basescu warned the government on Wednesday that there Romanians are often subject to discrimination in the counties of Harghita and Covasna, central Romania, where the mayors are Hungarians.

Italian FM Stunned By Romania’s Allegations Of Xenophobic Behavior – Press

20:05, 11 Feb. 2009
Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini on Wednesday voiced his surprise over Romanian counterpart’s allegations of xenophobic behavior among Italian officials, saying his country has always been a place of “tolerance and hospitality,” news agency Adnkronos reported.

Romanian Pres Asks Govt To Settle Sterling’s Black Sea Exploitation Issue

19:46, 11 Feb. 2009
Romanian president Traian Basescu asked Wednesday the Government to settle the issue regarding the blocks in the Black Sea that are exploited by Canada’s Sterling Resources.

Romanian Pres Wants Clean Secretaries Of State

19:27, 11 Feb. 2009
Romanian president Traian Basescu said Wednesday, at the ceremony in which the interior minister was sworn in, that "there are controversial secretaries of state," adding two secretaries of sate are mentioned in debates on connections with the oil segment.

Romanian Pres Deplores Alleged Media Campaign Against Govt

19:25, 11 Feb. 2009
Romanian president Traian Basescu accused mass-media company owners of trying to discredit the state’s authorities and asked the government counter this thesis through its actions.

Romanian Cos Benefit From RON2.38B In State Aid – Privatization Auth

18:46, 11 Feb. 2009
Romania’s privatization authority AVAS has granted so far state aid worth 2.38 billion lei (EUR1-RON4.2729) to 80 companies, AVAS president Mircea Ursache said Wednesday.

Embassies Ask Romanian PM To Raise Pvt Pension Contribution At 2.5% This Yr

16:36, 11 Feb. 2009
Five diplomats of the countries dominating the private pension market in Romania, with a market share of over 80%, asked prime minister Emil Boc to reconsider the decision to freeze the level of contributions to private pensions, as the 2% level would have long term effects on future pensioners.

Romania To Lower Car Tax, Pay Back Tax Differences

16:35, 11 Feb. 2009
Romania’s pollution tax on cars will be reduced from the current values which is triple compared to July 2008 and vehicle owners who paid the tripled tax might get their money back.

Danube Delta Governor Liviu Mihaiu Dismissed – Romanian Environment Min

16:28, 11 Feb. 2009
Journalist Liviu Mihaiu will no longer be the Governor of Romania’s Danube Delta, environment minister Nicolae Nemirschi said Wednesday, after the Government meeting.

Romania’s Former PM To Solve Black Sea Resources Scandal In Court

16:08, 11 Feb. 2009
Romanian former Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu said Wednesday he would solve the scandal related to Black Sea reserves lease to Canadian company Sterling Resources in court, as he "would not tolerate the lies of" ex-secretary of state Iulian Iancu and of current Premier Emil Boc.

Romanian Pres Signs Decrees Appointing Dan Nica Deputy Premier, Interior Min

15:34, 11 Feb. 2009
Romanian president Traian Basescu Wednesday signed the decrees appointing Dan Nica interior minister and deputy prime minister.

Snow, Blizzard Expected In Northern, Eastern Romania Thursday

15:34, 11 Feb. 2009
Meteorologists issued a yellow code warning, expecting snow and blizzards in northern, central and eastern Romania Thursday through Friday morning.

European Commission Presents Justice Report On Romania Thursday

15:31, 11 Feb. 2009
The European Commission will present the monitoring report on the Romanian justice system Thursday, Commission spokesman Mark Gray said in a press conference Wednesday.