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Italy’s Safety Decree Mostly Targets Non-EU Immigrants – Romanian PM

The public safety measures adopted by the Italian government mainly target non-EU immigrants, not particularly Romanians, but the Romanian government needs a thorough assessment before expressing an informed viewpoint, Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu said Thursday.

Romanian Natural Gas Prices Up 6% Since ’07, Vs 70% Worldwide

The price of natural gas delivered to Romanian consumers increased only by 6% since January 2007, compared to a 70% price hike worldwide, Romanian economy and finance minister Varujan Vosganian said Thursday.

Romanian Oil Co Petrom Fuel Prices Are Defiant -Econ Min

The high fuel prices enforced by Romania’s largest vertically integrated oil company Petrom (SNP.RO) are "defiant," and exceed the fuel prices in the countries with no crude-oil resources, minister of economy and finance Varujan Vosganian said Thursday.

Romania’s Govt Leaves 2009 Fiscal Code Almost Unch – FinMin

Romania’s Government plans to leave almost unchanged the country’s Fiscal Code in 2009 and continue its lax fiscal policy, the Romanian Finance Minister Varujan Vosganian said Thursday.

Romanian Foreign Ministry Appoints New Spokesperson

Romania’s foreign affairs minister Lazar Comanescu announced Thursday in a press conference the appointment of career diplomat Cosmin Boiangiu, 38, in the position of spokesman of the Foreign Ministry, replacing Ilie Banica.

Italy Willing To Support Rroma Children “From Afar” – Party Official

The Italian government is willing to financially support people of Rroma origin who live in Italy if their children remain in Romania, said Francesco Bruzzone, secretary of “Lega Nord” (Northern League) party.

Romania Starts Uterine Cancer Vaccine Program In Autumn

Romania could start at the beginning of the school year in fall a vaccination program against uterine cancer, Romanian Prime minister Calin Tariceanu and former US state secretary Madeleine Albright announced Thursday.

Most Romanians Vacationing Abroad Prefer Turkey, Greece

Romanian tourists this year have at their disposal 125 charter flight taking off from 11 cities in Romania, mainly to resorts in Turkey, Greece and Spain, compared to flights from only three cities last year.

Romania Gets Code Orange Warning For Floods

Romania’s Environment Ministry Wednesday sent out orange code warning to 18 prefect offices countrywide and yellow code warning to 24 prefect offices for floods expected Wednesday through Saturday.

Espoo Convention: Ukraine Receives Non-Compliance Decision Over Bystroe Canal

The parties to the UNECE convention on environmental impact assessment in a transboundary context (the Espoo convention) on Tuesday said Ukraine failed to observe the provisions concerning the Bystroe Canal and sent a non-compliance decision to the authorities in Kiev.

Romanian Election Campaign Aggressive, Theatrical – Political Science Expert

Professor of political science Jean-Michel de Waele of the Free University in Brussels said the election campaign in Romania is aggressive, tough and theatrical and the country seems to be on permanent campaign, which is bad for the stability of democracy.

Banks Expect Higher Lending Restrictions For Cos, Population

The banks on the Romanian market expect a tightening of the lending conditions in the following period for companies and population, the head of financial stability department within the central bank Ion Dragulin said on Wednesday.

Jazz Masters Bring „Five Peace Band” To Bucharest In Oct

Chick Corea, John McLaughlin, Christian McBride, Kenny Garrett and Vinnie Colaiuta will have a concert in Bucharest on October 26.

Fin Min Says Petrom Prices Question Co’s Strategy, Which Extracts Oil From Romania

The constant growth of oil prices and the situation in Romania, the only country with crude-oil resources in the European Union, questions Petrom’s strategy, which cannot continue like this, Economy and Finance Minister Varujan Vosganian said.

Romanian High Court Suspends Hayssam Trial

The case in which the owner of the ship Iman T, Mustafa Tartoussi, is charged with aiding Syrian businessman Omar Hayssam flee from justice, will be sent to the Romanian Constitutional Court with an exception of unconstitutionality raised by the defendants in the High Court of Justice.

Alleged Organized Crime Network Members Caught Red-Handed In S Romania

Seven alleged members of an organized crime network were heard by prosecutors Tuesday night in Pitesti, southern Romania, after they had been caught withdrawing 150 million lei (EUR1=RON3.6361) from a bank in Bucharest, using fake ID.

Ukraine Agrees To Halt Works On Bystroe Channel

Ukrainian authorities vowed to halt works on the Bystroe Channel, said the secretary general of the Espoo Convention, Wiek Schrage.

Romanian Senate’s Legal Committee To Hear Labor Min On June 5

The Romanian Senate’s committee for legal matters Tuesday decided to hear liberal labor minister Paul Pacuraru on June 5 in the file in which he is charged with bribery taking.

Romanian Senate Lowers Rents For Low-Income Tenants In State Protocol Buildings

Romanian senators Tuesday adopted a draft act stipulating that low-income tenants in buildings administrated by the state protocol authority RA-APPS will benefit from lower rents.

Hamas Allegedly Involved In Romanian EUR2.2M Bank Fraud

Some of the EUR2.2 million stolen in February from the BRD bank branch in southern Romanian city Craiova, was allegedly meant for the financing of terrorist group Hamas, through the head of the network, an Iranian citizen, according to sources among investigators.

Romanian PM Wishes In-House Privatization For Chemical Plant Oltchim

Romanian prime minister Calin Tariceanu said he would like chemical plant Oltchim to be privatized with Romanian capital, “if possible,” and not sold to foreign investors.

Three Cos Bid For Romania’s Avioane Craiova

Romania’s INAV Bucuresti, Italy’s Alenia Aeronautica and Czech AERO Vodochody filed bids for the privatization of airplane maker Avioane Craiova until the established deadline, the country’s privatization authority AVAS said Tuesday.

Romanian Deputies Reach No Consensus Over Prosecution Request For Ex-Minister

Members of Romania’s Chamber of Deputies’ committee for legal matters couldn’t reach a consensus Tuesday over the anticorruption department’s request for approval to prosecute former transports minister Miron Mitrea.

Romania’s Ctrl Bk Might Cut Rates On Slowing Inflation

Romania’s central bank might cut its main lending rate if the country’s soaring inflation shows real signs of slowing, the bank’s governor Mugur Isarescu said Tuesday during a financial seminar.

Romania’s Growing Econ Seen More Vulnerable On Loose Cur Acc Gap

Romania’s fast-growing economy will be seen more vulnerable until it proves its yawning current account deficit can be narrowed, the Romanian central bank governor Mugur Isarescu said Tuesday.

Two-Day Strike In April Cost Steel Mkr AcelorMittal Galati $4-5M – Mgmt

The two days of strike organized mid-April by employees of steel maker AcelorMittal Galati caused damages estimated at $4-5 million, the plant’s general manager, Augustine Kochuparampil, said Tuesday.

Distrigaz Sud: Natural Gas Prices Should Rise 18% On Jul 1

Romanian natural gas prices should increase by 18% on July 1, any price hike postponement causing average losses of RON1 million per day to gas distributor Distrigaz Sud, the company’s owner French stated-owned utility Gaz de France said Tuesday.

Over 1,300 People Affected By Powerful Flashflood, NW Romania

Over 1,300 people were affected by a powerful flashflood Monday night in Cluj county, northwestern Romania, and over 100 firefighters, militaries, police officers and members of local emergency committees intervened, the prefecture said.

Romanian President Says Politicians Asked Him To Interfere With Justice

Romanian president Traian Basescu said Monday evening, in a talk show on Realitatea TV, that there were politicians who went to his home to ask him to intervene in their favor in the justice system.

Romania’s Economy Seen Growing 7% Or More In 2008 – PM

Romania’s economy is seen growing by 7% or more in 2008, and a good farming output could even improve the forecast, Premier Calin Popescu Tariceanu said Monday.

Romania, U.S. Authorities Nail 38 In Phishing Scheme

Thirty-eight people in the U.S. and Romania have been charged in two indictments alleging they used Internet phishing schemes to defraud thousands of individual victims and hundreds of financial institutions, U.S. Deputy Attorney General Mark Filip said in a statement Monday.

Romania’s New Car Sales Seen Up 5% Tops In 2008

Romania’s new car sales will see an increase of only 5% in 2008, on higher imports of used cars and unchanged decommissioning bonus for old cars, the Automotive Manufacturers and Importers Association, or APIA, said Monday.

CGS Romania To Hire 1,000 People

CGS Romania, software, IT and outsourcing supplier, intends to hire 1,000 people in the two new IT centers opened by the company in Bucharest and Brasov. The two centers began activity this month.

Romania 15th In EU By 2007 FDI – Eurostat

Romania ranks 15th in the European Union by foreign direct investment inflows in 2007, with EUR7.3 billion, of which EUR6.5 billion were injected by EU countries, according to the EU statistical office Eurostat.

Romania Second In EU By 1Q Construction Output – Eurostat

Romania ranks second in the European Union by first quarter growth in construction output, with a growth rate of 32.2% compared to the first quarter in 2007, according to the EU statistical office Eurostat.

Organizations In 6 Countries Attend Theater Exchange In Sibiu, Central Romania

Twenty-five cultural organizations from Japan, the United States, France, Italy, Germany and Romania are taking part in the "Show exchange” taking place June 5-7 during the International Theater Festival in Sibiu, central Romania.

Police Camera Flashes Bring Patient Back To Life In SE Romania

An 84-year old woman from the southeastern Romanian town of Cernavoda was pronounced dead after suffering a stroke. Later, the flashes used by the police officers on the scene seemed to bother the deceased, who was soon found to be alive.

Businessman Taher Eyes Majority Stake In Five-Star JW Marriott Hotel In Bucharest

Businessman Fathi Taher, minority shareholder in Bucharest’s JW Marriott hotel, mandated law firm "Bostina si Asociatii" to negotiate with all holders for the takeover of the hotel’s majority stake, people closed to the matter told MEDIAFAX Monday.

Three Major Carmakers Consider New Plants In Romania – Official

Three automotive giants, Germany’s Audi, the luxury-car division of Volkswagen AG, Daimler AG and Japan’s Mitsubishi Motors, seek to open new plants in Romania, a Romanian official said Monday.

Romanian Businessman To Sue Former Associate Over Embezzlement

Romanian-French businessman Sever Muresan on Sunday said he intends to sue his former associate, Swiss national Peter Rolf Gemrig, for embezzlement of assets from one his companies.