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Romanian Soldier Wounded In Afghanistan Suffered Operation, Is Now Stable

Romanian volunteer soldier Nicolae Paraschiva, wounded Saturday in Afghanistan, was operated on and is now stable, spokesperson of the Defense Ministry Andreea Dumitru told MEDIAFAX Sunday.

Romanian Foreign Affairs Ministry: 55 Romanians Asked For Help To Leave Gaza By GMT 1000

The Romanian Foreign Affairs Ministry said until Sunday, GMT 1000, 55 Romanian citizens, (14 women, five men and 36 children) and nine Palestinian citizens requested consulate assistance in leaving the Gaza Strip.

Romanian Foreign Affairs Ministry: 48 Citizens Asked Exit From Gaza, By GMT 1500

The Romanian Foreign Affairs Ministry said until Saturday, GMT 1500 (5 p.m. local time), 48 citizens, of whom 41 Romanians - 11 women, four men and 26 children, asked Romania’s Embassy in Tel Aviv for assistance in leaving the Gaza Strip.

Kiev-Moscow Tensions Should Not Affect Gas Supply To Romania – Foreign Affairs Min

Romanian Foreign Affairs Minister Cristian Diaconescu had a telephone conversation Saturday with Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Ogryzko, in which he pointed out that the delivery of gas imported from Russia to Romania should not be affected by the tensions between Kiev and Moscow.

Requests’ Number To Leave Gaza Rises To 40 – Romanian Foreign Affairs Ministry

Romania’s Embassy in Israel received until Saturday, by GMT 1000, 40 requests for consulate assistance in leaving the Gaza Strip, of which 34 come from Romanian citizens (9 women, 3 men and 22 children), and 6 from Palestinian citizens, the Foreign Affairs Ministry said.

Romania’s Border With Hungary Tied To Highest Number Of Crimes In ’08 – Police Report

Romania’s border with Hungary was the scene of the highest number of crimes last year, followed by the country’s borders with the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine, Romania’s General Inspectorate of the Border Police said Saturday in a statement.

Romania Not Affected By Russia-Ukraine Gas Row – Econ Min

Romania does not face any problems in ensuring natural gas, although Romanian authorities received a notification from Russian gas producer Gazprom on a 32% cut in gas supplies by January 11, economy minister Adriean Videanu told a press conference Saturday.

Denmark, Greece Lift Labor Restrictions For Romanians, Bulgarians

Denmark and Greece have lifted the labor restrictions for Romanian and Bulgarian citizens, but many member states of the European Union will maintain them for another three years, EUObserver reported.

Romania’s New Govt To Face Imminent Econ Crisis – Oxford Analytica

Romania’s new Government will face an imminent economic crisis, whose signs have already become visible in the last months of 2008, the international consultancy company Oxford Analytica estimated for 2009.

Number Of Assistance Requests To Leave Gaza Rose To 32 – Romanian Affairs Ministry

The Romanian Embassy in Tel Aviv has received Friday, by GMT 1400, 32 requests for consulate assistance in leaving the Gaza Strip, of which nine came from Romanian citizens, two from Palestinian citizens, and 21 requests addressed children, foreign affairs minister Cristian Diaconescu said Friday.

Romanian Foreign Affairs Min Calls For Calm, Ministry Ready To Help Citizens Leave Gaza

The Romanian Foreign Affairs Ministry is organized to offer non-stop assistance to Romanians who want to leave the conflict area in Gaza, foreign affairs minister Cristian Diaconescu told a press conference Friday.

Two Families Asked For Help To Leave Gaza – Romanian Foreign Affairs Ministry

Six of the nine people who asked Romanian authorities in Tel Aviv for assistance in leaving the Gaza Strip are children, official sources told MEDIAFAX Friday.

Romanian Foreign Affairs Min Meets Israeli Ambassador To Bucharest Over Situation In Gaza

Romanian Foreign Affairs Minister Cristian Diaconescu met on Friday Israeli Ambassador to Bucharest, Oren David, to assess the situation in the Gaza Strip, especially that of the Romanian citizens in the area.

Romania’s ’08 Budget Deficit Almost 5% Of GDP, Govt Bills Unpaid – PM

The preliminary data for 2008 show a budget deficit of almost 5% of the gross domestic product, an economic growth of 8.3% and revenue worth EUR43 billion, EUR7 billion lower compared with the budget forecast, so that many of government’s bills cannot be paid, Prime Minister Emil Boc stated Tuesday.

Romania Parental Leave Ceiling Set At 3 Avg Wages – Sources

Romania’s parental leave ceiling will equal three average wages, governmental sources told MEDIAFAX Tuesday.

Romanian Govt Awaits Data On ‘08 Budget Before Proposing ‘09 Draft

Romania’s government will draw the 2009 draft budget after data for this year’s general consolidated budget becomes available, people familiar with the matter said Tuesday.

Romania To Move On Car Tax Bill After Jan 15 – Environ Min

Romania might make a decision regarding the tax on car’s first registration after January 15, pending a thorough analysis from ministries of environment, finance and transportation, Environment Minister Nicolae Nemirschi said Tuesday.

Romania’s Cugir Mechanical Plant Drops Staff Cutbacks On Higher Demand

The management board of the mechanical plant in Cugir, central Romania, has given up staff cutbacks scheduled within the reorganization plan of the company, as the plant has contracts and large orders for next year.

Romanian Govt Decides Senate Chair Able To Attend Def Council Meetings – Sources

The Romanian government on Tuesday amended the law regarding the National Defense Supreme Council, or CSAT, so that the Senate chairman is allowed to attend Council’s meetings, people close to the matter told MEDIAFAX.

Romanian Govt Members To Submit Wealth Statements By Jan 5 – PM

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc demanded Government members in Tuesday’s meeting to submit their wealth statements by January 5, 2009, in order to meet the deadline imposed by law after the taking of office.

Romanian Oltchim Employees Ask For State Aid, Threaten Protests

The employees with Romanian state-owned chemical plant Oltchim Ramnicu Valcea SA (OLT.RO) asked the country’s Premier Emil Boc for state aid to resume production at full capacity and threaten to take to the streets.

Romanian Forestry Auth Romsilva To Be Run By Florian Munteanu – Minister

Romania’s forestry authority Romsilva will be run by Florian Munteanu, former head of the local Forestry Department in Iasi, eastern Romania, during the social democrat government of Adrian Nastase, agriculture minister Ilie Sarbu told MEDIAFAX Tuesday.

Romanian Social Democrats Appointed Two State Secretaries For Agriculture

Romania’s Agriculture Ministry will keep the same structure and Liviu Harbuz, head of the Veterinarians College, and Catalin Rosculete, manager of the Caracal Research Development Station, will be appointed state secretaries, minister Ilie Sarbu told MEDIAFAX Tuesday.

Romania’s Econ Outlook Seen Negative In Indus, Construction Sectors During Dec-Feb INS

Romanian managers said that they are negative about two major sectors of the Romanian economy, namely the industrial and construction sectors between December and February, while services and retail are seen stable, the National Institute for Statistics, or INS, said Tuesday.

Romania’s Maternal Benefit To Equal 3 Avg Wages – Sources

Maternity benefit in Romania will be set at the level of three average wages, while the Government is expected to make a final decision at Tuesday’s meeting, people close to the matter said Monday.

Romania Govt Withdraws ’09 Draft Budget From Parl, Proposes New Draft – Sources

Romania’s center-left coalition will withdraw from Parliament the 2009 draft budget and the draft social security budget approved by the former executive in view of submitting a modified version of the drafts, people familiar with the matter said Monday.

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.