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Romanian Former State Min Indicted On Money Laundering Charges

Romanian former state minister George Copos on Monday was indicted along with other 12 people on charges of money laundering and forgery in the “lottery” file.

Romania’s Diesel Oil Prices Seen Higher Than Gas In ’09

Romania’s diesel oil prices will be higher than gas ones in 2009, on higher excise enforced January 1st, exchange rate fluctuations and the introduction of Euro 5 norms, which could increase the fuel prices by 3.8% or 10%, the fuel suppliers said Monday.

Around 2,000 Employees To Be Laid Off C Romania By Mar ‘09

Several Romanian economic operators in the central county of Prahova will lay off around 2,000 employees between December 2008 and March 2009, the spokesperson of Prahova Labor Force Recruitment Agency, Dragos Parvan said Monday.

Romanian Suspect Linked To Chad President’s Son Murder Remains Under Arrest

Romania’s Supreme Court on Monday decided that Marin Cioroianu, former member of the Foreign Legion accused of being involved in the murder of the Chad President’s eldest son, is to remain under arrest until his extradition to French custody.

Romania Could Lower Car Tax At Registration, Charge Annual Tax Considering Pollution Standards

Romania’s car tax could be lower in value at the time of vehicle registration and later included in the annual tax paid by owners and calculated in ratio with the vehicle’s pollution standards, according to one of the variants the government is considering in a move to change the car tax regime.

Fin Min To Assess Budget Resources, Situation Far Worse –Romanian Social Democrat Head

Romanian social democrat head Mircea Geoana said Monday the finance minister will assess the budget resources in the near future, as “the situation is far worse” than expected, and guaranteed the priorities of the governing agenda will be visible in the budget for 2009.

Romania’s Carom Starts Producing Biodiesel Next Year, Could Resume Synthetic Rubber Prod

Romania’s synthetic rubber maker Carom Onesti could start producing biodiesel next year following investments of nearly EUR20 million and is considering resuming rubber production.

Romania’s Former PM, Transp Min To Compete For Liberal Party Presidency In 2009

Romanian liberals will likely call for a party congress in July to elect a new party president, position for which the candidates so far are current president Calin Tariceanu and party vice-president and former transport minister Ludovic Orban.

Court Releases Romanian Communist-Era General Chitac To Allow Surgical Procedures

The Bucharest Military Court on Monday decided to discontinue for a three-month period the 15-year prison sentence of former high-ranking general Mihai Chitac to allow surgical procedures.

Romanian PM Confirms Govt Doesn’t Have Gen Budget Data For 2008, Expects It In Jan

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc confirmed Monday the government doesn’t have a clear assessment of the 2008 general consolidated budget and the data, along with forecasts for 2009, will be available in the first half of January.

Court Allows New Medical Examination For Romanian Ex General Stanculescu

The Bucharest Military Court decided Monday that former high-ranking general Victor Athanasie Stanculescu would undergo a new medical examination at the “Mina Minovici” National Forensic Medicine Institute, after Stanculescu’s lawyers requested a new medical checkup.

MOL, Agip Exchange Gas Stations In Austria, Romania

Hungary's oil group MOL sold 10 gas stations operated in Romania to fuel retailer Agip Romania, a unit of Italy's oil company ENI, buying at the same time 26 gas stations operated by Agip in Austria, by an agreement aimed at optimizing both companies’ operations on the fuel distribution market.

Romanian Leu Dn Vs Euro In Early Trade, Touches 4 Units

The Romanian leu traded lower against the euro early Monday, touching RON4.0005 units for a short time in the first trading hour.

Romania Transp Min Scraps Plans To Build Express Roads For Motorways

Romania’s Transport Ministry will give up plans to build 12 express roads in favor of more highways, Minister Radu Berceanu said Sunday.

Bucharest Makes World Record Bid With 281-Kilo Cake

Romania’s capital city Bucharest attempted a new world record on Sunday with a 281-kilogram (619.49 pounds) fruit and cream cake, after it previously made another two bids, with the world’s longest smoked sausage and the biggest Christmas give-away ever.

Romanians Pay EUR45M For New Year Tour Packages

Romanian travel agencies cashed in slightly over EUR45 million from tourists who want to spend the New Year in Romanian resorts and foreign localities, the Federation of Tourism Employers’ Associations, or FPTR, said Sunday.

Romanian President Calls On Ministers’ Solidarity Over ‘Tough Decisions’

Romanian President Traian Basescu on Saturday asked the ministers to show solidarity in the tough measures they are about to make, which will most likely defer several parliament-approved laws due to the economic downturn.

Romania’s Rompetrol Cuts Pump Prices By RON0.06/Liter

Rompetrol Downstream, the fuel distribution unit of Romania’s second-largest oil company Rompetrol Group NV , on Saturday cut its gasoline and diesel oil reference prices by 0.06 lei (EUR1=RON3.9297) per liter, the company said in a statement.

Bucharest Breaks World Record For Longest Sausage

Romania’s capital city Bucharest has made it to the Guinness Book of World Records on Saturday with the world’s longest sausage, of 392 meters.

Romanian Health Min Makes Surprise Visits To County Hospitals

Romania’s newly appointed Health Minister, Ion Bazac, has made surprise visits to county hospitals nationwide to see how fit they are to respond to emergencies during holidays.

Fitch Revises Dn Romania’s 09 Econ Growth F’cast To 1%

Fitch Ratings revised downwards its forecast on Romania’s 2009 economic growth to 1%, two percentage points less than its previous prediction, made in November.

Romania Ready To Offer Support In Baghdad Talks On Troop Presence

A Romanian delegation formed of two Foreign Ministry officials left for Baghdad end last week to provide technical assistance in view of potential talks to extend Romanian military presence in Iraq after December 31, the ministry said Tuesday.

Romanian Prosecutors Indict High Officials In Graft Case

Romanian anticorruption prosecutors on Tuesday indicted Paul Pacuraru, former labor minister during April 3, 2007 – September 23, 2008, and Ilie Morega, member of the General Assembly of Shareholders in thermal power producers Rovinari and Turceni, and the Oltenia National Coal Company (SNLO), on charges of corruption.

Romania’s New Transp Min To Sack 24 Subordinated GMs, On High Salaries

Romania’s new Transport and Infrastructure Minister Radu Berceanu said Tuesday that he would dismiss the managers of the 24 companies in the ministry's subordination, due to their high salaries.

Romania’s Environ Min Vows To Tackle Car Tax Issue In Jan ‘09

Romania’s new environment minister, Nicolae Nemirschi, said Tuesday, after taking over his portfolio, that he rejoices the "support" of Prime Minister Emil Boc in tackling the car tax issue in January 2009.

Romanian Govt To Back SMEs, Youth, Tourism – PM

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc said the new government set tourism, youth, sports and SMEs among its priorities and Elena Udrea is the right person to head the Tourism Ministry.

Romania’s Fin Min First Priority Is Naming State Secretaries

Romania’s new Finance Minister Gheorghe Pogea said Tuesday that his first priority is naming state secretaries, as the institution needs a leading team.

Romania’s New Agric Min Says Ministry Employees Too Involved In Politics Should Go

Romania’s new minister of Agriculture, Forests and Rural Development Ilie Sarbu said Tuesday upon taking office that ministry employees who got too involved in politics should resign.

Romania’s Alro Slatina Employees Protest Against Management Board Plans

Over two thousand employees of Romania’s Alro Slatina, the largest aluminum producer in Central and Eastern Europe, owned by Dutch-based Vimetco, gathered Tuesday morning to protest in front of the company’s building against the board’s decision to sack staff.

Romanian New PM Took Over Attributions, Office

Romania’s new Prime Minster Emil Boc and former Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu signed Tuesday at the government headquarters a protocol for the handing over and receipt of documents regarding the government’s activity, then government said in a statement.

Ferrari California To be Launched In Romania Jan ‘09

The latest model of Italian sports car manufacturer Ferrari, California, will be launched on the Romanian market at the end of January, at a price starting from EUR180,000, VAT included.

Romanian President Hoped Liberals Would Have Had A Flexible Stance Following Poll Results

Romanian President Traian Basescu said Monday night on a TV show he tried to convince former Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu to give up his request to stay at the head of the Cabinet instated following the elections, and hoped until the last minute the National Liberal Party would become “flexible”.

Romanian New PM, Ministers Take Over Portfolios

Romania’s new Prime Minister Emil Boc, sworn in Monday, arrived at the government headquarters Tuesday morning to take over his office and talk to his ministers before the Cabinet meeting scheduled for later in the day.

Romanian President Says Constitution Is Ambiguous, Needs Revision

Romanian President Traian Basescu said Monday evening in a TV show that the country’s Constitution needs to be revised and its errors and ambiguities need to be cleared, and the new center-left coalition government has a majority large enough to allow it to look into the fundamental law.

Romanian PM Voices Confidence In Partnership With Pres, MPs And Church

Romanian newly appointed Premier Emil Boc on Monday said he believes in a partnership with the President, the parliament and the Church, arguing the country needs solidarity based on collaboration.

Romania’s New Govt: A Political Compromise For Populace Benefit – President

Romanian President Traian Basescu on Monday said the newly appointed center-left government is the result of a political compromise in the public’s interest, mentioning he finally saw his dream come true, namely a government that won a transparent support in parliament.

Romania’s New Environ Min Eyes To Suspend Car Tax Ordinance

Romania’s designated environment minister, Nicolae Nemirschi, said Monday it will propose the Prime Minister and the government to suspend the ordinance tripling the pollution tax for cars and to amend it in near-time.

Romanian Commerce Chamber Official Sentenced To 5 Yrs In Jail For Corruption

A Romanian court on Monday sentenced the Commerce and Industry Chamber’s representative for Europe, Magda Tepoi, to five and a half years in prison on charges of embezzlement of European funds and corruption.

Romania To Keep Flat Tax, Introduce Fiscal Exemptions For Poor People – Designated PM

Romania’s designated Prime Minister Emil Boc said Monday the flat tax will be maintained, but a series of fiscal exemptions will be introduced for underprivileged categories, thus rejecting the accusations of now outgoing Prime Minister that the new ruling will leave out the flat tax.

Romanian Umbrella Killer Asks For Italy’s President Support

A Romanian national sentenced to 16 years in jail for killing an Italian woman by stabbing her through the eye with an umbrella on Monday sent a letter to Italy’s president asking him to allow her to do time in a special center, where she could take care of her two children.