English

Romanian PM Says President Plans Velvet Dictatorship

14:13, 21 Nov. 2007
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

13:28, 21 Nov. 2007
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

12:50, 21 Nov. 2007
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

12:40, 21 Nov. 2007
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

12:32, 21 Nov. 2007
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

12:30, 21 Nov. 2007
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

10:59, 21 Nov. 2007
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

10:55, 21 Nov. 2007
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

21:31, 20 Nov. 2007
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

20:59, 20 Nov. 2007
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

19:44, 20 Nov. 2007
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

17:12, 20 Nov. 2007
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

16:26, 20 Nov. 2007
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

16:23, 20 Nov. 2007
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

16:11, 20 Nov. 2007
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.

Romanian President Criticizes Govt Over Lack Of Action Against Energy Wise Guys

15:22, 20 Nov. 2007
Romania’s President Traian Basescu criticized the government Tuesday for not having done anything against the “wise guys” in the energy sector, who are still paying $25/kilowatt and sell it for "$80-$90" to household and corporate consumers.

Romanian Mutu Nominated For Best Foreign Footballer Award In Italy’s Serie A

15:19, 20 Nov. 2007
AC Fiorentina’s forward, Romanian Adrian Mutu was nominated for the Best Foreign Player award in Italian Serie A football championship in 2006-07 season, daily Corriere Canadese reported.

Romanian Econ Fin Min Says 2008 To See Energy Sector Privatizations

14:45, 20 Nov. 2007
Romania’s economy and finance minister Varujan Vosganian said Tuesday he met with Teodor Atanasiu, head of the privatization agency AVAS, to discuss the implementation of the country’s energy strategy and added 2008 will be a privatization year for the energy sector.

Unions Threaten Ample Protests, Upset Over ’08 Minimum Wage, Budget

14:32, 20 Nov. 2007
Leaders of Romania’s five union confederations will decide Tuesday on ways to protest as they disagree with the government’s proposed minimum wage and state budget for 2008.

Romania Uneager To Acknowledge Independent Kosovo – Foreign Min

13:21, 20 Nov. 2007
Romania’s foreign affairs minister Adrian Cioroianu said Monday in Brussels that Romania is not likely to be among the first states to recognize the independence of Serbian province Kosovo.

EXCLUSIVE: European Arrest Warrant For Romanian Who Claims Never Left Country

12:44, 20 Nov. 2007
Romanian judges on Monday forbade national Antal Vasile to leave the country based on a European arrest warrant issued by Spanish authorities, despite the fact the man claims he never left Romania.

Romania, Italy Set Up Bilateral Working Group Amid Diplomatic Scandal

11:26, 20 Nov. 2007
Romania’s Foreign Affairs Ministry state secretary Mihai Gheorghiu met on Monday with Italian deputy foreign minister Franco Danieli and agreed to the set-up of a joint working group for the Romanian communities in Italy and the Italian communities in Romania.

Jewelry, Masonic Marks On Display At Transylvania History Museum

11:19, 20 Nov. 2007
The Transylvanian National History Museum in Cluj Napoca, north-western Romania, will open on Wednesday the exhibition called “Freemasonry in Transylvania. Signs, symbols and marks.”

Romanian Customs Officers Find 26 Iraqis Hidden In Truck

11:13, 20 Nov. 2007
Police officers in Nadlac customs, on Romania’s western border with Hungary, found 26 Iraqis who were trying to cross the border illegally, hidden in a truck that was transporting soap to Germany.

Romania’s Petrom Hikes Fuel Prices By Up To RON0.10/Liter

20:08, 19 Nov. 2007
Romania’s largest vertically integrated oil company Petrom (SNP.RO) will hike Tuesday gas and diesel oil prices by up to 0.10 lei (EUR1-RON3.4833) per liter, due to an increase in international quotations, the company said in a statement Monday.

Romanian PM, Transp Min Inaugurate Beltway South Country

18:26, 19 Nov. 2007
Romanian Premier Calin Popescu Tariceanu, alongside Transportation Minister Ludovic Orban on Monday attended the inauguration ceremony of the Pitesti beltway, southern country.

Code Red For Flood On Romanian River Jiu

17:15, 19 Nov. 2007
City halls in several Romanian cities neighboring the river Jiu received a code red warning on the danger of floods on the lower course of the river, starting with Monday afternoon, until Tuesday at noon, according to the National Administration "Romanian Waters."

Romanian Pres Says Will Read Letters From Chamber Speaker After Referendum

16:54, 19 Nov. 2007
Romanian President Traian Basescu on Monday said he did not have a chance yet to open the letters sent by Chamber Speaker Bogdan Olteanu, adding he will read them after November 26.

Romania’s Former Political Prisoners To Receive Amnesty, Compensation

16:17, 19 Nov. 2007
Romanians politically convicted during the communist regime will have all criminal consequences erased and will be reinstated, and will also receive the right to moral compensation, based on court decision.

Romanian Conservative Leader Threatens To Sue Hungarian Party Leader

16:13, 19 Nov. 2007
Romania’s Conservative Party, or PC, leader Dan Voiculescu said he intends to sue Marko Bela, the head of the Democratic Union of Hungarians in Romania, or UDMR, “for repeated insults brought to Romania and for instigation to violence against Romanians living in Transylvania.”

Owners Of Seized Property Start Getting Compensations Tuesday

16:05, 19 Nov. 2007
Former owners whose property was seized during communism and who chose to receive cash instead of shares in investment fund Fondul Proprietatea start receiving compensations Tuesday, Nov. 20, economy and finance minister Varujan Vosganian said Monday.

Romanian Govt Mulls Starting Works At Capital-City Subway Section As Of 08

15:42, 19 Nov. 2007
Works for subway section Piata Universitatii-Drumul Taberei, in Romania’s capital city Bucharest, with a total value over EUR700 million are to start in 2008, minister of transportation Ludovic Orban said Monday.

Romania’s Govt OKs ’07 Budget Def At 2.4% Of GDP Vs 2.7%

14:31, 19 Nov. 2007
The Romanian government has approved on Monday the budget revision which lowers this year’s general consolidated budget deficit to 2.4% of gross domestic product, from 2.7% of GDP, sources from the Economy and Finance Ministry said Monday.

DaKINO Fest Gets EUR450,000 Budget, Prizes Top EUR12,000

13:27, 19 Nov. 2007
The 17th edition of the DaKINO International Film Festival has a budget of some EUR450,000, while the value of prizes exceeds EUR12,000, actor and producer Dan Chisu told a news conference Monday.

Romanain IT&C Regulator To Allow Mobile Phone Use On Planes

12:59, 19 Nov. 2007
Romania’s National Authority for Communication and Information Technology, or ANRCTI, will allow access to use mobile phones onboard airplanes and will submit for public debate the decision to set an annual EUR9 price for using a GSM channel.

European Commission Urges Romania To Back Car Taxpayers In Taking Legal Actions

11:03, 19 Nov. 2007
The European Commission insists that Romania allow car tax payers to contest this tax, while the Romanian authorities promise to consider elaborating a catalog on the car market values depending on factors such as brand and length of service to determine the depreciation of a car’s value in time.

Romanian Journalist Dumitru Tinu Disinterred

10:42, 19 Nov. 2007
The body of late Romanian journalist Dumitru Tinu was unearthed Monday morning to allow for further forensic investigations to determine whether the journalist died in a car accident.

High House Prices In Romania Limit Access To Mortgage Loans

20:14, 18 Nov. 2007
A family in Romania must earn EUR1,300 (RON4,550) per month to be able to afford a two-room apartment in Bucharest by getting a mortgage loan with zero downpayment, namely, fourfold the 2008 average salary per economy.

EPP Official: “Romania’s Govt Incapable Of Fulfilling Its Commitments”

19:35, 18 Nov. 2007
Antonio Lopez, secretary general of the European People’s Party, or EPP, said Sunday, during the electoral rally organized by Romania’s Democratic Party, that the Romanian government is incapable of fulfilling its commitments and that Romania cannot profit from its EU membership unless it tackles the issue of corruption.

More Counties In Romania Faced With Power Outages Over Strong Wind

15:28, 18 Nov. 2007
Romania’s Ministry of Interior and Administrative Reform said that the electric networks in 45 locations from five Romanian counties were seriously damaged Sunday morning by powerful windstorms.