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EXCLUSIVE: Syrian Justice Evader Paid EUR800 For Refuge Aboard Cargo Ship

Iman T cargo ship captain, Youssef Abd Al-Razzaq Tartoussi, admitted having received EUR800 from Omar Hayssam, sentenced by a Bucharest court to 20 years in jail for the kidnapping of three Romanian journalists in 2005 in Iraq, to help him evade the authorities and take refuge in one of the ship’s cabin.

Romanian Physicians College Dismisses TI Allegations On Bribe Legalization

The Romanian Physicians College, or CMR, on Monday dismissed the accusations of Transparency International Romania, which said CMR presented a draft act that would legalize bribe in the healthcare system.

TI Romania Urges Govt To Reject Any Attempt To Legalize Bribe In Health Sys

The Romanian government must firmly reject any act that might legalize bribe in the healthcare system, Transparency International Romania said in a statement Monday.

Romania’s Pres Urges Justice Min To Send Files On Ministers To Prosecutors Office

Romania’s president Traian Basescu on Monday urged interim justice minister Teodor Melescanu to send the notices on the start of criminal investigation against eight high-ranking officials to the Prosecutors’ Office or he might be accused of abuse of office.

Russia Patriarch Criticizes Romanian Church Over Metropolitan Of Bessarabia

Patriarch Alexius II of Moscow on Monday criticized the decisions of the Romanian Orthodox Church regarding the Metropolitan Church of Bessarabia, saying the Romanian church “interfered with an autocephalous orthodox church” and that its actions were “anti-canonical,” the Moldovan presidency said in a statement.

Romanian Social Democrats Urge Authorities To Ponder Romania’s Energy Situation

Romania’s leftist Social Democratic Party (PSD) urged the country’s defense council and government to seriously consider Romania’s energy situation, as the country’s is being cut out of main energy transport routes, spokesman Cristian Diaconescu told a news conference Monday.

Romanian Car Indus EUR7.2B In ‘07 Vs EUR5.6 On Yr-Dacia Oficial

Romania’s car industry reached EUR7.2 billion in 2007, up against EUR5.6 billion in 2006, an official of Automobile Dacia SA, the local unit of French carmaker Renault, said Monday.

Romanian Leu Falls To 3-Yr Low Vs Euro

The Romanian leu fell to a three-year low against the euro Monday, amid average volumes, echoing regional depreciating trends and worsening investor sentiment about Romania’s weak economic fundamentals, dealers said.

Romania’s Rompetrol Hikes Gas, Keeps Diesel Oil Prices

Romania’s second-largest oil company, Rompetrol Group NV hikes during January 22 and 27 the gasoline pump prices by 0.01 lei/liter (EUR1-RON 3.6972), and maintains the diesel oil prices, the company said in a statement Monday.

Romanian Pres Says Interim Justice Min Is No Good Either

Romanian president Traian Basescu warned interim justice minister Teodor Melescanu that, through his attitude in the matter of the eight former and current ministers targeted by criminal investigations, he is nearing abuse of office.

Romanian Floreasca Club Put Up For Sale At EUR38.7M

Romanian Floreasca Club will be put up for sale end-January by State Protocol Patrimony, or RA-APPS, at a starting price of EUR38.7 million.

Ford Asks For Higher Thermal Power Supply To Romanian Auto Plant Craiova

US giant Ford Motor Co. asked thermal power plant Craiova to increase its thermal power supply to Romania’s auto assembly plant Automobile Craiova, which Ford took over last year.

Romania Cannot Eliminate Its Car Tax -Official

Bogdan Olteanu, chairman of the Chamber of Deputies, said Romania cannot accept the European Commission’s request to eliminate its car tax, since Romania and the Commission do not share the same interests in this respect.

Blast At Bucharest’s „Lia Manoliu” Sports Complex, No Casualties

The powerful blast on Sunday morning at an athletics gym within the "Lia Manoliu" national sports complex was probably caused by malfunctions at the gas system, but there were no casualties, according to Catalin Eftene, spokesperson of Bucharest’s Inspectorate for Emergency Situations.

Woman And Child Fall To Death In Bucharest

A woman and her approximately one year old baby died after jumping from the fifth story of a building in the center of Romanian capital Bucharest, Bucharest Police spokesman Christian Ciocan told MEDIAFAX.

Romanian Midfielder Terminates Contract With Rapid Bucharest

Romanian football club Rapid Bucharest midfielder Marius Maldarasanu, terminated, Saturday, his contract with the club. Both parties convened on the termination, Rapid Bucharest general director Constantin Zotta told MEDIAFAX.

Romania’s EU Accession Negotiator Snaps At Germans On Nokia Issue

Vasile Puscas, former negotiator for Romania’s accession to the EU, said that Christian democrat leaders in German county North Rhine-Westphalia are smearing the skills of Romanian workers and Romanian market conditions, if the Bochum Nokia factory relocates to Romania.

Commercial Breeding Of Pigs Banned In Romanian Cities

Swine breeding in non-professional system, namely for household use, is allowed exclusively in the rural environment, and prohibited in cities, as well as on meadows and in forests, according to a draft government decision approving the strategy for the eradication of the swine pest in 2008.

Presidency Files On High-Ranking Officials Reached The Justice Min

Romanian interim justice minister Teodor Melescanu, said Friday that the documents sent by the president’s office regarding the eight high raking officials reached the Justice Ministry and are to remain sealed until he returns to the ministry.

Romanian Ex PM Willing To Run For Presidency

Adrian Nastase, former Prime Minister as well as former head of Romania’s leftist opposition Social Democratic Party, or PSD, said he would be willing to run for president in the 2009 elections if the party fails to find another candidate.

Romania Eyes Pulling Troops From Iraq After NATO Summit

Romania’s defense minister Teodor Melescanu said Romania would draw up a schedule, together with the allied forces so as to start pulling its troops from Iraq, after the NATO summit in Bucharest.

Romania, EC Agree On Car Tax Issue

The Romanian government will set the final value of the first registration tax for cars with respect for three new demands from the European Union, which, however, will not fundamentally change the value proposed by the Romanian experts, said Romanian environment minister Korodi Attila.

Romanian ELCEN Wants 15% Tariff Hike For Energy Delivered To RADET

Romanian power producer Electrocentrale Bucuresti (ELCEN) asked Romania’s energy watchdog ANRE to approve a 15% higher tariff for the thermal power it delivers to Bucharest district heating company RADET, due to the increase of fuel prices.

Romanian Environment Min Declares War To Plastic Bags

Romanian environment minister Korodi Attila will propose a law making plastic bags, available free of charge at stores, target for "drastic" taxation. This would get vendors to use alternative bags, made of environmentally friendly materials, for which there will not be any taxes.

Romanian MP Calls For Urgent Measures On Criminal Probes Against Ministers

Senator Gheorghe Funar, member of the Greater Romania Party, or PRM, urges the government to repeal law no. 115/ 1999 to allow the Prosecutors’ Office and the National Anticorruption Department, or DNA, to start criminal probes against the ministers committing criminal acts, which means that Romania’s President will no longer have to interfere on the matter.

Romanian President’s Appeal Against Discrimination Ruling To Be Tried May 8

Romania’s Supreme Court on Friday set the trial date for May 8 in case of the appeal President Traian Basescu filed against a warning issued by the National Antidiscrimination Council, following offensive behavior toward a television reporter.

Romanian Carmaker To Perform Anticorrosion Test To Logan Sedan Models Of Late ‘06

Romania’s largest carmaker Dacia Automobile will perform anticorrosion tests at all its Logan sedan models manufactured at the end of 2006, after the carmaker noticed “oxidation points near the back wheels’ area at certain vehicles.”

Romanian Prosecutors Probe Football Club Owners, Managers

Romania’s Anticorruption Department started criminal investigation against several football club owners and managers over footballer transfers, the Public Ministry said in a statement Thursday.

Freedom House: Romania Retains Its ‘Free’ Status

Romania remains a free country in a world that registered a notable setback for political freedom in 2007, independent Freedom House human rights organization said in its annual report.

EC Has Set No Date To Publish Justice Report For Romania, Bulgaria- Official

Mark Grey, spokesperson of the European Commission, said that the date to make public the report on the progress that Romania and Bulgaria have made in implementing justice reforms has not been set yet.

Eurostat: Romania 10-Mo ‘07 Trade Deficit EUR17.3B Vs EUR11.2B On Yr

Romania ranks fifth in Europe by trade deficit in the first ten months of 2007, up two places against the corresponding period in 2006, according to the statistical office of the European Union, Eurostat.

Romanian Transport Min To Run For Bucharest City Hall

The Bucharest branch of the Romanian National Liberal Party held talks on the candidates for local elections, the only “certainties” being transport minister Ludovic Orban for City Hall and District mayor Andrei Chiliman for District 1. A decision will be made mid-February, after polls.

EU Says Romanian Gas Should Be 70% More Expensive

The European Commission asked Romania to hike by almost 70% the price for natural gas. This would represent alignment of the prices for locally produced gas with the price on the European market, www.gandul.info reported.

Romanian Pres Sends Dignitary Probe Request To Justice Min

The prosecutors’ office within the Romanian High Court of Justice received, Wednesday evening, the request and literature through which president Traian Basescu demands the initiation of criminal investigations against eight current and former members of the government.

Romania’s Pres Says New Justice Min Must Have A Clean Past

Romania’s president Traian Basescu on Wednesday said he has nothing against senator Norica Nicolai, the liberals’ proposal for the justice minister position, but added he wishes the new justice minister to have a “clean” past.

Romanian Pres, PM Reached No Agreement Regarding Justice Min Proposal

Romania’s president Traian Basescu said he talked on Wednesday with Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu on the issue of appointing a new justice minister.

Romanian Econ Min: Wages To See Single Digit Increases In ‘08

Romania’s minister of economy and finance Varujan Vosganian plans to present next week a set of measures to keep budget spending in line with official estimates with single digit increases in wages this year to maintain the country’s macroeconomic balance.

Romanian Govt Succumbs To EC Decision Over CO2 Emissions

The Romanian Government succumbed to the European Commission’s decision reducing Romania’s pollutant emission ceiling for each industrial installation.

Romania’s Pres Asks Justice Min To Probe High Ranking Officials

Romania’s president Traian Basescu asked interim justice minister Teodor Melescanu to start criminal investigation procedures against high-ranking officials.

FMS International Signs Romanian Marinescu To Complete Formula BMW Line-Up

Fisichella Motor Sport International has completed its driver line-up for the 2008 Formula BMW Europe Championship with the signing of Romanian Mihai Marinescu.