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Romania Halts SAPARD Payments To Fix Deficiencies Notified By EC

15:22, 20 Aug. 2008
Romanian authorities temporarily suspended payments to beneficiaries of the SAPARD program until the resolution of payment authorization technical deficiencies signaled in the European Commission’s audit report, Finance Ministry state secretary Alice Bitu said Wednesday.

Romanian Pwr Grid Unable To Manage Future Wind Pwr Production

15:21, 20 Aug. 2008
The national power grid will not be able to manage the high volume of wind farms production for which Romania’s state-owned power grid operator Transelectrica got requests, the company’s representatives said.

Romanian Govt OKs Feasibility Study For South Bucharest Airport

15:06, 20 Aug. 2008
The Romanian Government approved Wednesday the drawing up of a feasibility study for the construction of an airport in the southern area of Bucharest, due to higher traffic.

Romanian Farmers To Get Loans From Six Banks Under Rural Development Program

15:04, 20 Aug. 2008
Romanian farmers will be able to get total loans of 760 million lei (EUR1=RON3.5238) for investments from six banks the Agriculture Ministry selected in an auction and lending agreements are to be signed next week, the ministry said.

Romanian Agriculture Ministry Took Measures To Hinder Drought Effects

14:45, 20 Aug. 2008
Romania’s Agriculture Ministry took measures to reduce effects of drought and is considering multiannual budget projection to improve the country’s irrigation system, agriculture minister Dacian Ciolos said Wednesday in the Government’s weekly meeting.

Orange Romania To Sell iPhone 3G For EUR489 Tops

13:33, 20 Aug. 2008
Orange Romania, part of France’s mobile telephony operator Orange, on Wednesday said the new iPhone 3G handset, to be launched in Romania on August 22, will sell for prices ranging between EUR179 and EUR489, based on the type of model and subscription.

U.S. Bechtel Continues Asphalt Works On Romania’s Transylvania Highway

13:12, 20 Aug. 2008
U.S. construction company Bechtel started asphalt works on a 25- kilometer road section of Transylvania Highway, linking central Brasov to western Bors, and completed only five kilometers so far.

Romanian President Traian Basescu Starts Diplomatic Tour

10:57, 20 Aug. 2008
Romanian President Traian Basescu left for Kiev Wednesday morning where he begins his two-day diplomatic tour, which includes working visits in Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey.

Romanian PM Sacks IT&C Regulator Head

20:47, 19 Aug. 2008
Romanian Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu sacked Tuesday the head of the authority regulating the communications and information technology sector ANRCTI, the government said.

Romanian Head Of EU Affairs Dept Dismissed On Incompatibility Of Office

17:46, 19 Aug. 2008
Romanian Premier Calin Popescu Tariceanu on Tuesday dismissed secretary of state Adrian Ciocanea-Teodorescu from his position as head of Department for European Affairs (DAE), over incompatibility of public offices, the government said in a press release.

Romania’s Former Transport Minister Pins Infrastructure Problems On PM

14:54, 19 Aug. 2008
The lousy stage of construction works on four major infrastructure objectives represents the personal failure of acting Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu, the country’s former transport minister Radu Berceanu told a press conference Tuesday.

Romania’s Rompetrol Cut Diesel Oil Pump Prices By RON0.04/Liter

11:54, 19 Aug. 2008
Romania’s second-largest oil company Rompetrol Group NV, owned by Kazakhstan's KazMunaiGaz, cut Tuesday its diesel oil pump prices by 0.04 lei (EUR1=RON3.5302) per liter, and kept gasoline prices unchanged, the company said in a statement.

Air Bucharest Transport Aerian To Start Operating In March ‘09

19:21, 18 Aug. 2008
The owners of tourism agencies Kusadasi and Fibula Air Travel, the spouses Yapici, will expand their business by founding an air transport company for passengers, after an investment of some EUR6 million.

Romania’s Telecom Mkt Seen At RON15.5B In ’08 – Report

16:31, 18 Aug. 2008
Romania’s telecommunications market is seen at 15.5 billion lei (EUR1-RON3.5302) in 2008 from RON14 billion a year ago, a 3.4% growth fall driven by lower telecom service prices, Polish consultancy company PMR said in a report Monday.

Romanian Senate To Hold Extraordinary Session On August 25-28

16:24, 18 Aug. 2008
The Romanian Senate will meet between August 25 and 28 in an extraordinary session, to discuss the cases of former minister Codrut Seres and acting minister Paul Pacuraru, the Senate leaders decided Monday.

Romania’s Petrom To Cut Diesel Oil Pump Prices By RON0.04/Liter

12:46, 18 Aug. 2008
Romania’s largest vertically integrated oil company Petrom (SNP.RO), owned by Austria’s OMV (OMV.VI), cut Monday its diesel oil pump prices by 0.04 lei (EUR1=RON3.5483) per liter, and kept the same tariffs for the gasoline, the company said in a statement.

Romania’s BCR Installed ATMs In Main Subway Stations In Bucharest

12:17, 18 Aug. 2008
Romania’s largest lender by assets Banca Comerciala Romana, or BCR, installed ATMs in the main subway stations in Bucharest, the bank said Monday.

Romanian Lender BRD Launches Its First Chip Cards

11:45, 18 Aug. 2008
Romania’s second-largest lender Banca Romana pentru Dezvoltare -Groupe Societe Generale (BRD.RO), which is majority owned by France's Societe Generale, Monday launched its first chip-based cards in a move to wipe out card fraud, the bank said Monday.

Romania’s Main Opp Party Proposes Lifting Immunity Of High-Ranking Officials

19:39, 17 Aug. 2008
Romania’s leftist opposition Social-Democratic Party (PSD) will propose, at the beginning of the legislative session, a draft law amending the Constitution, so as to lift any form of immunity for the head of state, government members and lawmakers, PSD head Mircea Geoana said Sunday.

Romanian Sandra Izbasa Wins Women’s Floor Exercise Olympic Gold

17:17, 17 Aug. 2008
Romanian Sandra Izbasa won the women's floor exercise gold medal at the Beijing Olympic Games on Sunday.

Businessman Fathi Taher To Invest EUR40M In Five-Star Hotel Central Romania

16:47, 17 Aug. 2008
Businessman Fathi Taher will invest EUR40 million in a five-star hotel to be built on the land of Trei Brazi tourism company in Predeal mountain resort, central Romania.

Romanian Dita Tomescu Wins Olympic Gold In Women’s Marathon Final

14:08, 17 Aug. 2008
Romanian Constantina Dita Tomescu, 38, crossed the finish line of the Women's Marathon to claim the title at the Beijing Olympics in 2 hours 26.44 minutes on August 17.

Ukraine Stops Works At Bystroe Canal

19:05, 15 Aug. 2008
The Ukrainian authorities annulled their decision to carry on with the second stage of works at the Danube-Black Sea deep-water navigation canal (the “Bystroe Canal Project”), Romanian Foreign Ministry said in a statement Friday.

Fitch Affirms Romania’s Banca Comerciala Romana At A –

18:17, 15 Aug. 2008
Rating agency Fitch Ratings affirmed Romania’s Banca Comerciala Romana BCR rating at Long-term foreign and local currency Issuer Default (IDR) A minus, the agency said Friday in a press statement.

Romania Might Assign 6% Of GDP To Upgrade Road Infrastructure – Min

18:13, 15 Aug. 2008
The Romanian government might gradually assign 6% of the gross domestic product, starting with 2009 until 2012, to upgrade the country’s road infrastructure, health minister Eugen Nicolaescu told a press conference Friday.

Romania’s Healthcare Might Get 5% Of GDP In ’09-Min

17:16, 15 Aug. 2008
The Romanian government might allocate funds matching 5% of the gross domestic product to the healthcare field in 2009, with the percentage to reach 7% of the GDP in 2012, Health Minister Eugen Nicolaescu said Friday.

Romania Received EUR560M In EU Funds For Rural Development

14:26, 15 Aug. 2008
Romania received the first tranche of European Union funds for rural development worth nearly EUR560 million, namely, a 7% downpayment of the total sum assigned until 2013 to fund projects contracted via the National Rural Development Plan (PNDR).

Romania Extended Yellow Code Warning For Heatwave

13:48, 15 Aug. 2008
The Romanian meteorological authorities (ANM) extended the yellow code warning for heat until Saturday for 14 counties and for the capital city Bucharest, expecting temperatures will continue to rise to 37-38 degrees Celsius.

Romania Hikes Subsidy For Diesel Fuel Used In Farming To RON109.2M

13:47, 15 Aug. 2008
Romania hiked Wednesday the state aid granted to farmers who benefit from subsidies for diesel fuel used this year in agriculture by 49.2 million lei (EUR1=RON3.5370) to RON109.2 million.

Romania Fin Min Points Finger At U.S. Bechtel Over Transylvania Motorway Problems

19:48, 14 Aug. 2008
Potential problems with the construction of Transylvania Motorway, which connects central Romanian Brasov to western Bors, should be linked to U.S. constructor Bechtel, as the Romanian authorities have done their part of the deal, economy and finance Minister Varujan Vosganian said Thursday.

Speed Limitations For Romanian Trains Due To Heatwave

19:24, 14 Aug. 2008
Romania’s state-owned railway company CFR on Thursday said train drivers were instructed to reduce speed during daytime, when track temperatures can exceed 50 degrees Celsius.

German Tourist Attacked By Bear Central Romania

19:22, 14 Aug. 2008
A bear attacked a group of three German tourists in Bucegi Mountains, central Romania, severely wounding a man while he was asleep, mountain rescuers said Thursday.

Romanians Advised Not To Disclose Sensitive Data To Employers

17:28, 14 Aug. 2008
Romania’s Association of Credit Brokers, or ARBC, on Thursday warned individuals not to disclose sensitive data or to present personal documents and information when applying for a job, following a recent incident when several people were victims of a fraud.

Twelve Bears Captured In C Romania To Be Transported To A Reservation

15:54, 14 Aug. 2008
Twelve bears were captured in mountain resort Sinaia, central Romania, and will be taken to a reservation in Arges county, southern Romania, as they had come down into town numerous times over the last few days, Sinaia mayor Vlad Oprea said Thursday.

Romanian Trade Union Cartel Alfa Pleads For Ceasefire In Georgia

15:23, 14 Aug. 2008
Romania’s trade union Cartel Alfa on Thursday urged Russian and Georgian authorities to cease fire and peacefully resolve their differences, after the Caucasus conflict left ten members of the Longshoremen Union in Georgia’s port of Poti dead and 15 others injured.

Rice: NATO Membership Helps Solve Old Differences, Like Btw Romania, Hungary

13:33, 14 Aug. 2008
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice on Wednesday said NATO membership allows states to resolve old conflicts, giving as example the differences between Romania and Hungary and between Bulgaria and Turkey.

Romania’s BCR Launches Products, Services To Help Implement EU-Funded Projs

11:26, 14 Aug. 2008
Romania’s largest lender by assets Banca Comerciala Romana, or BCR, launched several products and services to implement projects using non-reimbursable European funds, the bank said Thursday.

Romania’s 1H Curr Acct Def Up 8.5% On Yr To EUR7.98B

11:14, 14 Aug. 2008
Romania's first half current account deficit rose by 8.5% on the year inthe first half to EUR7.981 billion, primarily as a result of a higher trade deficit, the central bank said in a statement Thursday.

Romania’s First 7-Mos Used Car Registrations Double On Yr, To 112,054 Units

22:39, 13 Aug. 2008
Romania’s used car registrations reached 112,054 units in the first seven months of 2008, double compared to the same period a year ago, while new car registrations lowered 2.3%, to 171,385 units, according to data offered by the Romanian Driving License and Car Registration Department (DRPCIV).

Romanian Govt Oks Construction Of 861 Housing Units For Young People

20:01, 13 Aug. 2008
Romania’s National Housing Agency (ANL) will start building a total 861 housing units, which will be rented out to young people aged up to 35 who cannot afford to buy an apartment or rent a privately-owned housing unit at current market prices.