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Romanian Tourists Still Missing, Rescuers To Resume Searches Tuesday

Rescue mountaineers were unable to locate two tourists who went missing Saturday on Bucegi mountain, central Romania, and said will suspend searches until tomorrow morning.

Romanian Govt Cuts RON2B From ’08 Budget Exp, Redirects Funds To Pensions, Aids

The Romanian Government will cut more than 2 billion lei (EUR1=RON 3.7985) from 2008's budget expenses of 18 ministries and public institutions, and the funds will be mainly redirected to the Labor Ministry for pensions and state aids, sources told MEDIAFAX Monday.

Romania’s Fin Min, EIB Ink EUR1B Loan Deal

Romania’s Finance Ministry signed Monday a loan agreement with the European Investment Bank, or EIB, worth EUR1 billion, for financing transports, environment and economic competitiveness projects.

Romania Transp Min To Handle Construction Of Bucharest-Danube Canal

Romania’s Transportation Ministry on Monday said it took over from the country’s Water Board the construction of a canal to link capital Bucharest to Danube River.

Romania’s Petrom Cuts Gasoline, Diesel, LPG Prices

Romania’s largest oil company Petrom SA (SNP.RO) cut Monday gasoline reference prices by 0.09 lei (EUR1=RON3.7985) per liter, diesel oil prices by RON0.06, while the price of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) was cut by RON0.46, at RON1.99, the company said in a statement.

Arpechim: Romania’s Oltchim Might Take Over Part Of Refinery’s Employees

The management of Romanian refinery Arpechim, owned by the country's largest oil company Petrom (SNP.RO), told Monday the employees who protested in front of Petrom’s headquarters that it began talks with chemical producer Oltchim (OLT.RO) for the sale of Arpechim’s petrochemical activity.

Pwr Plant Turceni GM, Investigated For Abuse Of Office, Resigns

The general manager of Romanian state-run thermal power producer Turceni, Dumitru Cristea, investigated for abuse of office, resigned Monday.

Romanian Railway Unionists Postpone Protests

Romanian railway unionists affiliated to the Miscare-Comercial Federation on Monday postponed protests, following the commitment taken by the transport minister to approve orders regulating the periodical check-up of railway staff, and the government decree granting funds to infrastructure.

Mountain Rescuers Suspend Searches For Missing Tourists C. Romania

Rescuers said Sunday will suspend until tomorrow searches for two tourists stranded on Bucegi mountain, central Romania.

Romania Econ Growth Seen Below 4% In ‘09 From 8% In ’08 – Analysts

Romanian economic growth is seen below 4% in 2009, down more than half compared to the 8% growth estimated for 2008, analysts said.

9 Romanians Estranged In Libya After Italian Employer Steals Their Passports

Nine Romanian workers have been abandoned on Libyan territory, after an Italian employer stole their passports, Romania’s Foreign Ministry said Saturday.

Romanian Police, Public Servants Press For Higher Wages, Increased Staff

More than 200 unionists in law enforcement and public servants sectors staged an hour and a half protest in Bucharest’s Constitution Square on Saturday, pressing for higher salaries and increased personnel.

Romania’s ELCEN Might Cut Bucharest Heat Supply In ’08-’09 Winter On Gas Debts

Romanian power producer Electrocentrale Bucuresti ELCEN said Friday that it might deliver lower thermal energy to capital city Bucharest's population, after gas supplier WIEE warned the company that its high debts would lead to a cease in the gas supply.

Romanian President Upbeat On Ability To Overcome Economic Difficulties

Romanian President Traian Basescu on Friday said the country can overcome the economic downturn, mentioning the media depicts a false “apocalypse” about job losses.

Romanian PM: Main Concern Is Securing Jobs, Not The Budget Def

Romania’s Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu said Friday that his main concern is to secure people’s jobs and only afterwards to keep the country’s budget deficit within assigned limits.

Romanian Rompetrol Petrochemicals Cuts Prod, Personnel

Rompetrol Petrochemicals, the petrochemistry arm of Romania’s second-largest oil company Rompetrol Group NV, will cut its polymer production by 55% and temporarily lay off 24% of its production and maintenance personnel for a two months period, due to the international financial crisis.

Nokia’s Romanian Plant To Cut Costs, Keep Up Production As Planned – Manager

The Romanian plant of Finnish mobile giant Nokia will resort to cost cuts like any other company trying to overcome the economic crisis, but the production will go on as planned in the next quarter, the company’s manager John Guerry said at the end of his meeting with president Traian Basescu.

Nokia’s Romanian Plant Unaffected By World Crisis, Jobs Are Safe – President

Romanian President Traian Basescu said Friday, after talks with management of the Romanian plant of Finnish mobile giant Nokia, that the unit isn’t affected by the international financial crisis and people’s jobs are safe.

Products In Romanian Supermarkets Are 85% Romanian – President

Despite contrary statements, 85% of the products sold in Romanian supermarkets are made in Romania, president Traian Basescu said Friday.

Upetrom 1 Mai Co Faces Unskilled Young Workforce Issue – Romania’s Pres

Romanian president Traian Basescu said Friday, after visiting the factory, that the country’s oilfield equipment manufacturer Upetrom 1 Mai Ploiesti faces the problem of “very low skilled” young workforce.

Curr Acct Def „Not A Tragedy”, To Correct By Lower Consumption – Romanian PM

A high current account deficit should not be seen as a tragedy, as an emerging economy like Romania needs investments for upgrades, and the gap will be reduced due to a consumption slowdown in the following period, Romanian Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu said Friday.

Romania’s Rompetrol To Cut Diesel Oil, Gas Pump Prices By RON0.03 Per Liter

Romania’s second-largest oil company Rompetrol Group NV, owned by Kazakhstan's KazMunaiGaz, will cut Monday its diesel oil and gas pump prices by 0.03 lei (EUR1= RON3.8258) per liter, the company said in a statement.

Romanian Authorities Cancel Auction To Sell Offices In Bucharest Free Press House

Romania’s state protocol authority, or RA-APPS, said Friday it cancelled the public auctions to sell spaces in the Free Press House in Bucharest scheduled for November 26-28.

Bucharest District 4 Mayor Questioned In Corruption Scandal

Bucharest District 4 mayor Cristian Popescu came Friday morning to the National Anticorruption Department to offer details in a case investigated by anticorruption prosecutors.

Romania’s Flat Prices Seen Dn 30% By ’09 Spring – Web Survey

Romanian apartment prices are seen down 30% by the spring of 2009, according to a survey on the real estate website imopedia.ro.

Romania’s Hidromecanica Employees Press For Salary Payment

The employees of Romania’s engine and turbines manufacturer Hidromecanica Brasov staged a protest on Thursday to press for salary payment, saying will not resume work until they receive their paychecks.

Romania’s Fin Ministry, EIB To Sign Mon EUR1B Loan Agreement

Romania’s Economy and Finance Ministry will sign on Monday a loan agreement with the European Investment Bank, or EIB, worth EUR1 billion, to finance transports, environment and economic competitiveness projects, sources close to the matter told MEDIAFAX on Thursday.

Romania New Car Sales Dn 26.8% On Yr In October

New car sales in Romania declined 26.8% in October compared to October 2007, to 24,438 vehicles, while in the first ten months of the year, the decline was of 2.3% on the year, to 292,239 vehicles, the Romanian Automotive Manufacturers and Importers Association, or APIA, said Thursday.

Romanian Mine Blast Victims’ Kin To Receive Financial Aid

The families of the 12 miners and rescuers who perished in the blasts occurring Saturday in Romanian mine Petrila, as well as the families of other victims of the same incident will receive financial aid ranging between 5,000 and 10,000 lei (EUR1 = RON3.8258).

Romanian Car-Maker Dacia Prefers A Standing Law To Encourage New Cars Purchase – Manager

Romanian Government’s measure to suspend pollution tax for new cars until the end of next year is advantageous for Romanian carmaker Dacia, but the country needs a standing law stimulating the purchase of new cars, the company’s general manager Francois Fourmont told MEDIAFAX Thursday.

Romania Telecom Regulator Eyes Cutting Interconnection Fees In 2009-2010

Romania’s communications authority (ANC) eyes cutting interconnection fees for three mobile telephony operators, as of 2009, and estimates a 25-30% decrease in clients’ phone bills over the next three years, the regulator’s head Liviu Nistoran said Thursday.

“Romanol” Art Showcased In Madrid

A series of contemporary art expos, signed by Romanian artists living in Spain, will be launched Thursday in Madrid, at Espacio Niram, which organizes the events in collaboration with RoMadrid Cultural Club, the organizers announced.

Spain Rejects Proposal To Lift Labor Restrictions For Romanian Workers – Paper

The labor and immigration committee of Spain’s lower house of Parliament rejected a proposition to lift labor market restrictions imposed on Romanian and Bulgarian workers, Spanish daily Eco Diario wrote Thursday.

Two Construction Cos In C Romania To Scrap Nearly 1,000 Jobs Citing Intl Crisis

Romanian construction company Concefa and construction material trader Ambient, based in Sibiu, central Romania, notified the local labor inspectorate and employment agency they will start laying off nearly 1,000 people starting November, citing the international crisis and lack of activity.

Romania’s Nuclearelectrica, Investors In Nukes 3, 4 Proj Ink Deal

Romania’s nuclear energy company Nuclearelectrica signed Thursday the deal with the six selected foreign investors to set up a joint venture that will build nuclear reactors 3 and 4 at the country’s sole nuclear power station Cernavoda.

Romanian Car Mkr Dacia Halts Production Btw Nov 20- Dec 7

Romanian car maker Dacia halted production Thursday until December 7 at its plant in Mioveni, southern Romania, after it previously halted operations on November 13 and 14 and on October 30 and 31, citing lower demand on the local and export markets.

Romania’s Govt Puts Oltchim Sale In Stand-By

The privatization of Romanian chemical plant Oltchim (OLT.RO) is currently in stand-by, and the sale will be resumed when the market ensures favorable conditions to keep the plant’s employees, in the meantime the company being supported by state aids approved by the European Commission.

Romanian Govt OKs Suspending Pollution Tax Until Dec 31 ‘09

Romania's Government approved the suspension of the pollution tax for new Euro 4 cars with less than 2,000 cmc engines, until December 31, 2009.

Romanian Govt To Change Fiscal Code, To Include Facilities Of Econ Plan

The fiscal facilities from the Romanian Government's economic support plan will be introduced by modifying the Fiscal Code and the Fiscal Procedure Code, Romania’s Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu said Wednesday.

Romanian RCS&RDS Mulls Entering Hungary’s Mobile Telephony Mkt

Romania’s cable and internet supplier RCS&RDS aims to expand its mobile telephony services on Hungary's market, by taking part in a license granting bid held by the Hungarian state, the company’s president Alexandru Oprea said Wednesday.