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Romanian President To Consult Parliament Parties If Referendum Succeeds

Romania’s president Traian Basescu said Thursday evening on Realitatea TV that if seven million people vote in the referendum and six million vote in favor of his proposed system, he would call for consultations with parliament parties.

Charity Auction Raises Over EUR90,000 For Bucharest Children’s Hospital

Over EUR90,000 were raised in the charity auction "Marie Curie" and will go into the renovation of the "Marie Curie" children’s hospital in Romania’s capital city of Bucharest.

Cannabis, Most Wanted Drug In Europe – Report

Cannabis is the most used illegal drug in Europe, some 70 million European citizens stating that they have tried it at least once in their life, while 23 million people said they used cannabis in the past year, according to the annual report on the drug situation in Europe, presented in Bucharest.

EXCLUSIVE: Supreme Court To Decide The Fate Of The Bucharest Library

The Supreme Court will debate on Friday the fate of Bucharest’s Metropolitan Library, the oldest cultural building in the city.

Romanian Court Gets Prosecutors To Review Rompetrol Case

A Bucharest court decided to have prosecutors re-examine the money laundering and tax evasion case against Dinu Patriciu, the chief executive of Dutch-registered oil company Rompetrol, saying it was based on incorrect procedures.

Film Lovers Can Enjoy Premiers At French Film Festival In Bucharest

The French Film Festival, to take place in Bucharest between November 26 and December 2, will present a selection of 31 films, among which “Bording Gate”, directed by Olivier Assaynas, Marjane Satrapi’s “Persepolis” and “Les Temoins”, directed by Andre Techine.

Romania’s Econ Growth Could Ease 1-2% Over Next Period – Ctrl Bker

Romania’s gross domestic product growth might slow down one or two percentage points in the upcoming period, which helps the country avoid economic overheating, central bank governor Mugur Isarescu told Market News International.

Trial Of Romanian Hacker Breaking Into NASA Servers Postponed

The trial of Romanian hacker Victor Faur, accused of breaking the codes and hacking into the computerized systems of several American agencies, including NASA, was postponed by four months as the procedures to call on American witnesses to testify took longer than expected.

Car Sales In Romania In Romania Up 23% YOY In First 10 Mos

Car sales on the Romanian market increased 23% in the first ten months of the year, reaching 258,224 units, according to the Romanian Automotive Manufacturers and Importers Association.

Romanian PM Says Democrats’ Protejes Block Bucharest Traffic

Traffic in Romania’s capital city of Bucharest is blocked by the “asphalt kings” protected by the president and his people, Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu said Thursday at the official opening of a road passage in the city’s northern area.

Romanian Interior Min Says President Uses Secret Services For Political Purposes

Romania’s interior minister Cristian David said Wednesday that there is bonding between Romania’s intelligence services and President Traian Basescu, who uses information from the services for his own political purposes.

Bologna Applies First Expulsion Orders On Two Romanians

Italian authorities in the city of Bologna will apply, for the first time since the adoption of the Italian government’s decree easing expulsion procedures for foreign citizens, an immediate deportation order on two Romanians who assaulted five Italian police officers and opposed a routine checkup.

Bucharest’s Credit Bureau Stores Data On 3.8 Million People, 6.1 Million Accounts

Bucharest’s Credit Bureau has so far stored data on the financial behavior of 3.8 million people with over 6 million accounts, thus, adding another two million people to its database, compared with 2006, the Bureau’s general manager Serban Epure said.

Romania Defeats 6-1 Albania-Qualifies 1st Place For Euro 2008

Romania’s national football team defeated on Wednesday 6-1 Albania’s team and thus qualified on first place of the Euro 2008 Group G.

Football League Pres Says Romania Ready For Euro 2008

Dumitru Dragomir, president of the Professional Football League, or LPF, said Romania’s football team is ready for the Euro 2008, after they qualified in the first position of Group G.

Romanian Citizen Claims Being Abused By Italian Police

A Romanian citizen claimed she was abused by Italian police officers while police representatives said she wanted to evade interrogations, according to Romanian consul Alexandru Dumitrescu.

Works On Romania’s Comarnic-Brasov Highway Sector To Start Autumn Of ‘08

Romania’s transportation minister Ludovic Orban said that works at highway section Comarnic-Brasov will start next autumn and the contract with the company to manage the project is to be signed by June 1, 2008.

Christmas Pig-Killing In Romania To Observe Animal Welfare Norms

Romanians are to kill pigs for Christmas only after the animals are stunned with guns firing captive bolts, the national veterinary authority ANSVSA said in a statement Thursday.

Romanian Social Democrat Leader Says Will Not Team Up With Liberals

The head of Romania’s leftist opposition Social Democratic Party, Mircea Geoana, said Wednesday that liberals will have to switch to the opposition after the European Parliament elections on Nov. 25.

Bucharest Odeon Theater Tours Budapest, Prague

Bucharest’s Odeon Theater will go on two international tours to Budapest and Prague, organized by the Romanian Cultural Institute to celebrate the national day of Romania.

FC Dinamo President Threatens To Fire Footballers In Case Of Defeat

The executive president of FC Dinamo, Cristi Borcea, threatened Walter Zenga’s players that he would fire them in case they fail to win the game against FC Steaua, scheduled for Saturday on Steaua’s stadium.

Pet Shop Boys Give Strict Instructions Regarding Bucharest Concert

The management of the Pet Shop Boys asked for at least five secured dressing rooms to be put at the disposal of the band and staff for the concert to take place on November 25 at Sala Palatului, in Romania’s capital city of Bucharest.

Romanian Snail Breeders Mull Opening Processing Unit

Snail breeders will invest about EUR2 million to open a processing plant for snail meat, said Wednesday Marcel Macris, chairman of the board of directors of Escar Prod, which will unfold the investment.

Politicians Accuse President Basescu Of Stalling Uninominal Vote Issue

Officials of Romania’s parliament parties commented Wednesday President Traian Basescu’s move to appeal at the Constitutional Court the law introducing the uninominal voting system, for which the government assumed responsibility in parliament.

Minimum Wage Over RON500 Would Pose Economic Risks – PM

A minimum wage higher than the government’s proposed RON500 for 2008 would drive Romania’s economy into a “risk area”, overthrowing the country’s robust economic growth, Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu said Wednesday.

Romanian PM Says President Plans Velvet Dictatorship

Romanian Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu said Wednesday that President Basescu’s decision to appeal to the Constitutional Court the law on uninominal voting for which the government took responsibility reflects the head of state’s plans for a “velvet dictatorship” in Romania.

Lions Attack Zoo Caretaker In S-E Romania

A caretaker of the Braila Zoo, southeastern Romania, was rushed to the county hospital where she underwent surgery after she was attacked by two lions.

Romania’s President Takes Uninominal Voting Law Up With Constitutional Court

Romania’s President Traian Basescu appealed Wednesday with the Constitutional Court the law on the uninominal voting system for which the government assumed responsibility in Parliament.

Two Busted With Counterfeit Money In Western Romania

Two young men were caught red-handed Wednesday in Romania’s western city of Oradea, as they were trying to launch counterfeit bills of RON100.

Gas de France Mulls Romanian Gas Pipe Projects

French giant Gas de France (GdF), is interested in the construction of the gas networks that connect Romania with Bulgaria and Hungary, the president of the French group Jean Francois Carriere said.

Romanian Livestock Transporters Need Competence Certificate

Drivers transporting livestock on a distance longer than 65 kilometers, and their companions, must hold, as of January 5, 2008, a certificate of professional competence drawn up in Romanian and English, to attest the holder’s graduation of training courses in the field of livestock transportation.

Romania, Among The First In Tax Classification

Romania ranks fourth worldwide and first in the European Union by the number of taxes a company must pay during one year alone, namely, double the taxes paid by companies in other European states, such as Poland or Slovakia, audit and consultancy company PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) said.

Romania’s Justice Minister Blasts Magistrates Over Biased Decisions

Romania’s justice minister Tudor Chiuariu said that many of the decisions made by the High Council of Magistrates are still influenced by the political climate, Radio France International (RFI) informed.

Romanian Police Squads Track Down Serial Rapist

Bucharest’s police squads managed to catch serial rapist Ionut Catalin Stan, 23, following an investigation which revealed the rapes he committed and the fact that he had been released from prison before serving his sentence for robbery.

Romania’s Pres Urges Lawmakers To Re-Examine Law On Criminal Procedure Code

Romania‘s President Traian Basescu said Tuesday that he submitted to the lawmakers the request to re-examine the law approving Government emergency Ordinance 60/2006 amending the Criminal Procedure Code and other laws.

Romanian Pres: Amendments To Criminal Code Offer A Way Out To Probed Politicians

Romanian President Traian Basescu on Tuesday said that, if promoted, the current version of the Criminal Procedure Code would have offered a way out to a series of politicians investigated in connection with criminal activities, as one of the provisions said probes could not last for more than six months.

Romania Labor Min To Resume Negotiations For ’08 Minimum Wage

Romanian Labor Minister Paul Pacuraru on Tuesday said the authorities will reopen negotiations with unions and employers on the minimum wage for 2008, as he admitted the 500 lei (EUR1-RON3.4948) level proposed a week ago “can’t buy happiness.”

Romania’s PM Blasts President Over Uninominal Voting System

Romania’s Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu said President Traian Basescu refused to promulgate the law on the uninominal voting system, for which the government assumed responsibility in Parliament, as he only wants things to work out the way he likes, and stressed that the system he proposed is "an attempt to reinstate dictatorship in Romania."

Romanian Halfback, Midfielder To Miss Game Vs. Albania

Romanian halfback Cristian Chivu and midfielder Banel Nicolita will not be able to perform in the last game of Romania’s national soccer team against Albania, in the 2008 European Championship qualifiers, as they are both injured.

EXCLUSIVE:Romania Court Rules Unconstitutional Law Limiting Right To Defense

Romania’s Constitutional Court on Tuesday ruled as unconstitutional the provisions of Law 356/2006 limiting the right of attorneys to participate in criminal investigations conducted by prosecutors.