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Romanian Social Democrat Head Sees Early Elections As Crisis Vent

20:48, 13 Feb. 2008
Romanian Social Democratic Party resident Mircea Geoana, stated at the end of the party’s Executive Committee meeting that, in his opinion, the only solution to overcome the political "standstill" generated by the president and the prime minister would be early parliament elections.

Econ Min: Romgaz Is Profitable, Has Strategic Importance For Romania

19:46, 13 Feb. 2008
Romania’s Economy and Finance Minister Varujan Vosganian said in a statement that gas company Romgaz Medias is profitable and has a strategic importance for the country’s economy.

Romanian Gas Prod Romgaz Should Be Closed Down – Patriciu

18:00, 13 Feb. 2008
Businessman Dinu Patriciu, president of Romania’s oil company Rompetrol, said Wednesday that Romgaz Medias, one of Romania’s largest gas producers, should be closed down as it has been spending the public money for 18 years, and is partially responsible for the natural gas price hike.

Romanian PM Disavows Resignation Option

17:18, 13 Feb. 2008
Romanian Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu said he will not resign his position to trigger early elections and that his objectives, as head of Government and leader of the Liberal Party, differ from those of the social democrats, pointing out that the opposition can resort to a no-confidence motion.

Oil Tycoon Patriciu Says Will Fund Election Campaign Of Parties He Likes

16:14, 13 Feb. 2008
Romanian businessman Dinu Patriciu, the richest man in Romania in 2007 according to business weekly Capital, said Wednesday he will finance this year’s election campaigns of parties he likes.

Nearly 50% Of Romanian Women Expect Sex On Valentine’s Day – Poll

15:48, 13 Feb. 2008
Nearly every other Romanian woman expects sexual intercourse on Valentine’s Day, but only 36% of the women said they would use modern contraceptives, according to a survey released Wednesday by the Society for Contraceptive and Sexual Education (SECS).

Tenants Buying ANL Homes Obliged To Keep Them Five Years

15:33, 13 Feb. 2008
The homes rented to youngsters via the National Housing Agency ANL may be sold only to tenants whose average income per family member is lower than double the gross average salary and who undertake to keep the home for five years.

Govt Says EC Won’t Launch Infringement Procedure Vs Romania For Excessive Budget

15:03, 13 Feb. 2008
The European Commission will not initiate an infringement procedure against Romania due to excessive budget deficit, as there is no danger for the deficit to exceed 3% of the gross domestic product, government representatives said.

Romanian PM Says Def Min Reshuffle Will Not Affect NATO Summit

15:00, 13 Feb. 2008
The replacement of the minister of defense will not affect preparations for the NATO summit to be hosted by Romania’s capital Bucharest in April, Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu said Wednesday.

At Least 120 Romanians Arrested In Spain On Credit Card Fraud Charges

14:36, 13 Feb. 2008
At least 120 Romanian nationals were arrested Wednesday in Spain in a Europol-led international operation against credit card forgery.

Romanian Senate OKs Automobile Craiova Sale

14:06, 13 Feb. 2008
The Romanian Senate in plenary session Wednesday approved 56 to three votes and four abstentions the draft law regarding the sale of Romania’s auto assembly plant Automobile Craiova to U.S. giant Ford.

Romanian Senate Bans Gay Marriage

13:53, 13 Feb. 2008
Romanian senators decided Wednesday to ban same-sex marriages, defining family as based on the consented union between a man and a woman in an amendment to the Family Code.

Piracy In Romania Led To $95M Losses – Report

13:21, 13 Feb. 2008
Piracy continued to be a serious problem for Romania in 2007 with losses that rose to $95 million, up 26% against 2006, with the problems of Internet piracy growing to become the most serious threat to the industry, according to a report issued by the International Intellectual Property Alliance.

Romania’s Ruling Liberals, Opposition Social Democrats Roughly Agree On Uninominal Vote System

11:12, 13 Feb. 2008
Romania’s ruling liberals and opposition social democrats roughly reached an agreement on the promotion of the uninominal voting system with one round of elections and proportional representation in parliament, but the Hungarian minority party insists to keep additional lists.

Romanian Film Director Takes Home Golden Bear Award

11:05, 13 Feb. 2008
Romanian director Bogdan Mustata won the “Golden Bear” Berlinale Shorts sections award for "A good day for a swim,” jury member Ada Solomon told Mediafax.

No Data To Prove Prosecutors Collaborated With Securitate – Kovesi

19:53, 12 Feb. 2008
Romania’s general prosecutor Laura Codruta Kovesi Tuesday said she holds no information regarding prosecutors who may have collaborated with the former communist police, stating that since she took over the position she received no intimations in this respect.

Romanian Pres Willing To Work With PM On Justice Minister Issue

17:48, 12 Feb. 2008
Romanian president Traian Basescu is ready to work with the Prime Minister to find a solution for the Ministry of Justice, within the provisions of the Constitution and with respect for the Constitutional Court decision, said the president’s spokesman, Valeriu Turcan.

Belgian Company Refuses To Rent Cars To Romanian Citizens

16:27, 12 Feb. 2008
Two Romanian MEPs last week accused Belgian rent-a-car company Hertz Benelux of discriminating Romanian citizens by refusing to rent cars to them.

President Tells PM He Will Refuse The Dismissal Of The Def Min – Sources

14:46, 12 Feb. 2008
Romanian president Traian Basescu told Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu he would not accept the dismissal of defense minister Teodor Melescanu, proposed for justice minister, official sources told MEDIAFAX Tuesday.

Former Tennis Star Quits Tennis Federation Chairman Position

14:43, 12 Feb. 2008
Romania’s former tennis player Ilie Nastase on Tuesday said he resigned his position as president of the Romanian Tennis Federation, or FRT, according to the office of the spokesperson of the National Agency for Sports.

Bucharest’s Baneasa To Become Urban Airport In Up To Ten Years – Min

14:16, 12 Feb. 2008
Bucharest’s "Aurel Vlaicu" Baneasa international airport will become available only for small, private and charter planes, in about ten years, following developments in the north of the city, transport minister Ludovic Orban told MEDIAFAX Tuesday.

Romania’s AVAS Asks Petrom To Annul Spin-Off Deal

13:13, 12 Feb. 2008
Romania’s privatization agency AVAS, which owns 20.6% in oil and gas company Petrom (SNP.RO), asked the company’s majority stockholder OMV AG (OMV.VI) to annul the Petromservice takeover deal, fueled by the high acquisition price.

Romania To Introduce Pan-European Call Numbers For Social Services

13:11, 12 Feb. 2008
Romania’s communication and information technology regulator ANRCTI published for consultation a draft on the allocation of six-digit phone numbers for information and social services.

Romania Jan CPI +0.86% On Mo, +7.26% On Yr

11:50, 12 Feb. 2008
Romania’s consumer price index rose 0.86% on the month in January, on higher prices for food and services, taking the annual rate to 7.26%, its highest level since May 2006, the National Statistical Institute, or INS, said Tuesday.

Fire Bursts Out At Refinery In S Romania

21:07, 11 Feb. 2008
Firefighters in Romania’s southern town of Ploiesti Monday, at around 11.00 local hour, struggled to put out a fire that had burst at one of the cooling towers of Astra Refinery, situated in the southern part of the town.

Romania Capital City ’08 Budget Might Reach EUR1.3 M

20:22, 11 Feb. 2008
Romania’s capital city Bucharest may benefit in 2008 from a EUR1.3 million budget according to the draft budget submitted on Monday for public debate.

Romania’s BCR To Play Mkt Mkr For Erste Bank On Bourse

19:41, 11 Feb. 2008
Romania’s largest lender, Banca Comerciala Romana (BCR) will kick off intermediation activities in the transaction system of the Bucharest Stock Exchange, according to a press release issued by the market operator.

EU Says Romania Should Make 112 Emergency Service More Appealing

16:50, 11 Feb. 2008
Romania, together with other 13 EU member states, received a notice from the Union, because the complete services, included in the implementation of the single "112" emergency number, are not functional.

EU Could Activate Safeguard Clause On Justice In Romania – Official

15:44, 11 Feb. 2008
Romanian EU Commissioner Leonard Orban told a news conference Monday that, in theory, the Union could activate the safeguard clause on Romania in the field of justice, but added he hopes the country registers significant progress in the upcoming months to avoid such measures.

Liberals Propose Defense Min For Justice, Stroe For Defense

14:52, 11 Feb. 2008
The leaders of Romania’s ruling Liberal Party, or PNL, proposed Teodor Melescanu for justice minister and Radu Stroe for defense minister.

Finnish Mobile Giant Nokia Started Production In NW Romania

13:15, 11 Feb. 2008
Finnish mobile telephone giant Nokia started production Monday in its plant in Jucu, in the northwestern Romanian county of Cluj, where it is to assemble its 1200 model for markets in Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

Romania 2007 Trade Gap Widens To EUR21.5B

10:14, 11 Feb. 2008
Romania's trade deficit widened roughly 44.4% in 2007 to EUR21.5 billion from EUR14.89 billion in 2006, driven by higher imports from European Union states, the National Institute for Statistics said Monday.

Romanian FM, Moldovan President Discuss EU Integration During Munich Security Conf

18:13, 10 Feb. 2008
Romania’s Foreign Minister Adrian Cioroianu on Sunday held talks with Moldovan President Vladimir Voronin on Moldova’s integration to the European Union during a major security conference in Munich.

Four Families Evacuated Due To Landslides SW Romania

17:19, 10 Feb. 2008
Authorities in Valcea County, southwestern Romania had to evacuate four families in Mateesti locality in the past 48 hours due to landslides at a mining debris site, county prefect Radu Renga said.

Romania Should Import Natural Gas From Russia – Fin Min

15:59, 10 Feb. 2008
Romania will register losses of hundreds of million euros for the period between 2002 and 2012, as the authorities chose to purchase natural gas from intermediaries and not directly from Russia, minister of Economy and Finance Varujan Vosganian said Sunday.

Romanian Cos To File Profit Tax Statements By February 15

14:41, 10 Feb. 2008
Romanian companies must file statements regarding the tax on profit due for the fiscal year 2007 by February 15.

Health Min Controls Drugstores To Prove Romania Faces No Crisis

15:41, 09 Feb. 2008
Romania’s Ministry of Public Health will start on Monday a thorough control of drugstores and pharmaceutical suppliers, health minister Eugen Nicolaescu said Saturday.

Romanian Liberals Hang On Nicolai For Jus Min Position

15:14, 09 Feb. 2008
The Romanian liberals consider three or four nominations for justice minister position, including nominating Norica Nicolai again, liberal deputy president Puiu Hasotti said Saturday.

ECHR: Romania To Pay EUR3,000 Damages Over Unlawful Detention

20:06, 08 Feb. 2008
The European Court of Human Rights, or ECHR, on Thursday ruled in favor of a Romanian national who sued the state over unlawful pre-trial detention, and compelled Romania to pay moral damages worth EUR3,000.

Japanese Ambassador Points Out Cluj For Nippon Investors

17:37, 08 Feb. 2008
Japan’s ambassador to Romania, Kanji Tsushima, plans to determine Japanese companies to invest in Romania’s central county of Cluj, which became an attraction point for investors especially after Finnish mobile phone company Nokia decided to open a plant in the area.