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Romanian Pres Recalls Ambassador To Warsaw

Romanian president Traian Basescu signed the decree recalling the Romanian Ambassador to Warsaw, Gabriel Constantin Bartas, after saying, in May, that Bartas did not inform him on the Crulic case, which is why he would demand his recall.

Romanian Pupils Are Not Obligated To Fund Classroom Upgrades

Romanian parents are not obligated to contribute money to the maintenance and upgrade of the material base of the classroom. The Bucharest School Inspectorate sent a memo to schools saying that this contribution is exclusively collected and managed by the parents committee.

Marriott, Best Western, Ramada And Starwood Mull Expanding Ops In Romania

International hotel chains Marriott, Best Western, Ramada Plaza and Starwood plan to expand their operations in Romania, officials of the hotel operators said Monday.

Bucharest Underworld Heads Generally Wanted In Drug Dealing Case

Two heads of the Bucharest underworld were placed on the generally wanted list for evading prosecution, after border police and organized crime prosecutors have clear evidence they are involved in an international drug dealing case.

Romania’s Romgaz Mulls Investing RON32M In Gas Wells Upgrade

Romgaz Medias, one of Romania’s largest gas producers, will invest 32 million lei (EUR1=RON3.6698), VAT excluded, in the upgrade of ten natural gas wells, the company said Monday.

Romania’s CFR To Sell Lands In Cap City For At Least EUR31M

Romania’s state-owned railway company CFR will auction Tuesday four lands of some two hectares total surface in the capital city Bucharest, for at least EUR31 million, the Ministry of Transportations said.

Dacia Sandero Launched In Romania June 3

Automobile Dacia SA, the Romanian unit of French carmaker Renault (13190.FR), will launch its new five-door hatch Sandero on June 3, and the first Romanian customers will be able to drive the new model by the end of the same month, company officials said Monday.

Romania 1Q Real Estate Deals Dn 68% To EUR119M

Real estate transactions in Romania dropped 68% to EUR119 million in the first quarter, mirroring a downward trend of the European commercial properties market, realtor Cushman & Wakefield said in a report Monday.

Some EU States Pressure EC On Romania Report – Commissioner

European Commissioner Leonard Orban told a news conference Monday that although some Parliaments of member states are pressuring the European Commission on its Report on Romania, this is not reason for concern.

Romania’s CFR Calatori To Buy RON855M Railcars In 3 Yrs

Romania’s state-owned passenger railway company CFR Calatori plans to buy 200 railcars worth 855.482 million lei (EUR1=RON3.6698) in the next three years, the company said Monday.

Romanian Ctrl Bkr Urges Politicians To Pledge For 2014 Euro Adoption

Romania’s central bank governor Mugur Isarescu Monday urged Romanian politicians to commit now to the country’s euro-zone entry timetable to make euro adoption possible in 2014 as planned.

Romanian Director Marian Crisan Bags Short Film Palme d’Or

After Romanian director Cristian Mungiu won the prestigious Palme d'Or for his “4,3,2” feature film last year, this year’s Cannes Festival brought the award to Romanian director Marian Crisan for the short film "Megatron".

Two Dead In Blast At Chemical Plant, C Romania

Two people died in the blast that occurred Monday morning at the crematory within the chemical plant in Victoria, Brasov County, central Romania.

U.S. Authorities To Investigate Romanian Ship Captain’s Disappearance

U.S. authorities will launch an investigation into the mysterious disappearance of Romanian ship captain Liviu Iliescu, 48, from the “Morning Cloud” ship under Liberian flag, according to the officials with the local navy authority.

Police Officers In Cyprus Arrest Two Romanians In Pimping Case

Police officers in the city of Paphos, southwest of Cyprus, arrested two Romanian nationals and a Hungarian citizen under suspicions of involvement in pimping case, Cyprus Mail informed.

Romanian Ship Captain Disappears In Atlantic Ocean

Romanian ship captain Liviu Iliescu, 48, disappeared without a trace from the “Morning Cloud” ship under Liberian flag, in yet unclear circumstances.

Romania Places 20th At 2008 Eurovision Song Contest

Romanian singers Nico and Vlad ranked 20th at this year's Eurovision Song Contest in Belgrade on Saturday, while Russian pop singer Dima Bilan won the contest with a total 272 points.

Nearly Two Hundred People Join Gay Parade In Capital City Bucharest

Nearly two hundred people joined the Gayfest pride parade organized in capital city Bucharest by non-profit organization ACCEPT, which promotes and protects the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual) rights.

Prince Charles Has Non-Cancerous Growth Removed From Face

Britain’s Prince Charles, 59, had a non-cancerous growth removed from his face in a minor procedure, Daily Mail informed.

Romanian Govt To Propose Multiannual Budget This Year –Fin Min

The government will propose the parliament a multiannual budget, valid for a two-year period, to include “ambitious” infrastructure projects, Romania’s economy and finance minister Varujan Vosganian Saturday told a press conference in northeastern city of Suceava.

Romanian “New Right” Organization Rallied In Anti-Gay Parade Protests

Nearly one hundred members of far right organization “The New Right,” a neo-fascist group militating against homosexuality and ethnic and sexual minorities, Saturday rallied in capital city Bucharest against the gay pride parade to take place starting 17hrs (local time).

Romanian NGOs Criticize Govt Over GayFest Pride Parade

Several Romanian non-governmental organizations (NGOs) on Friday criticized the authorities for giving green light to the GayFest pride parade to be held in Bucharest Saturday.

US Visa Denials Reached 31.3% In Romania In Jan ’08

A joint work group was formed between Romania and the USA regarding visa matters, the Romanian Ministry of Foreign told MEDIAFAX, adding that, on January 31 visa request denials were three times above the limit mentioned in US legislation.

Nearly 2M Romanians Fit To Work, Are Unemployed – Fin Min

Nearly two million Romanians are fit to work, but are currently unemployed, and these people could support investment programs, Romanian economy and finance minister Varujan Vosganian said Friday.

Romanian Oil Co Petrom Fuel Prices Could Be Dn 10%, Pft Not Impacted -Econ Min

Romania’s largest vertically integrated oil company Petrom (SNP.RO) could decrease fuel prices between 5% or 10% without affecting the company’s net profit, which might also trigger lower fuel prices from the other oil companies, minister of economy and finance Varujan Vosganian said Friday.

Romanian Gov Assigns Funds For 2nd Nuclear Pwr Plant Feasibility Study –Econ Min

The Romanian Government assigned the funds for the feasibility study of the country’s second nuclear power plant, and will start the construction of the nuclear reactors 3 and 4 of the power plant in Cernavoda in 2008, minister of economy and finance Varujan Vosganian said Friday.

Romanian Finance Ministry Compensates Deported, Disowned

Romania’s Ministry of Economy and Finance will grants compensations worth 25 million lei (EUR1=RON3.6767) in May and RON50 million in June to people deported during the communist regime or whose seized property cannot be returned, finance minister Varujan Vosganian said Friday.

Romania Must Commit To 2014 Euro Adoption – President

Romanian President Traian Basescu said Friday that Romania needs to commit to adopt the single European currency in 2014.

Train Goes Off Track N Romania, No Victims Registered

A passenger train traveling from capital city Bucharest to Sighetu Marmatiei, northern Romania, went off track Friday morning near Salva, Bistrita-Nasaud county, northern Romania, without making any victims.

Romanian Immigrants In Spain Have Better Living Standard Than Those In Italy – Survey

Romanian immigrants in Spain have a better living standard than those in Italy, as 14% of Romanians in Spain managed to buy a home, compared with 8% in Italy, according to an opinion poll among Romanian communities in Spain conducted by the Agency for Governmental Strategies (ASG), in Mar-Apr 2008.

Romania Recalls Ambassador To Poland – Minister

Romania’s foreign affairs minister, Lazar Comanescu, told a press conference Thursday that all procedures targeting the return of Romanian ambassador to Warsaw, Gabriel Constantin Bartas, have been initiated.

Romanian Conservatives To Rally Against Gay Parade

The Romanian Conservative Party is against the organization of gay parade GayFest, considering the perpetuation of such conducts in Romania as inappropriate, said ceonservative MP Vlad Hogea, announcing that the party will protest Sunday in a rally defending traditional values.

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.