English

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.

Romanian Health Minister Launches Campaign Against Cancer

14:10, 18 Nov. 2007
Romania’s liberal health minister Eugen Nicolaescu launched the national campaign “United Against Cancer!,” aimed at providing equal sums of money for all people suffering from cancer, no matter the EU state they come from.

Romania’s Transports Minister Blasts Bechtel Over Asphalt Works On Highway

19:58, 17 Nov. 2007
Romania’s transports minister Ludovic Orban criticized American construction company Bechtel on Saturday, as the company failed to fulfill its contract obligations and has not so far executed any asphalt works on the first eight kilometers on Transylvania highway, said Orban, adding he expects solutions, not excuses.

Romanian, Italian Justice Ministers Sign Agreement On Magistrates’ Joint Activity

19:18, 17 Nov. 2007
Romania’s justice minister Tudor Chiuariu and his Italian counterpart Clemente Mastella signed Saturday, in Italy’s city of Benevento, the agreement regarding the joint activity of the Romanian and Italian magistrates.

Romania’s Transports Minister Promises Improvements In Road, Tourism Infrastructures

18:33, 17 Nov. 2007
Romania’s transports minister Ludovic Orban said Saturday, in northern county of Bistrita, that the road infrastructure in Romania’s central and western areas of Transylvania and Banat will meet the European standards in six-seven years’ time, stressing that highways will be built here as well.

Romania’s Leading Opp Party Counts On Electorate’s Support At EP Elections

17:32, 17 Nov. 2007
Romanian social-democrat MEP Ioan Mircea Pascu counts on his party to get over 25% of votes at the European Parliament elections to take place next Sunday, November 25.

Romanian Liberals Attempt To Make Peace With US Ambassador – Sources

16:34, 17 Nov. 2007
Romanian liberals mull inviting US Ambassador to Bucharest Nicholas Taubman, alongside other ambassadors of EU states, to attend an electoral event on November 21 called „You and Me, at the Athenaeum” in an attempt to unwind the relations between the US and Romanian parties, liberal sources told MEDIAFAX Saturday.

President Traian Basescu Attends Ceremony In SE Romania

15:31, 17 Nov. 2007
Romanian President Traian Basescu attended Saturday morning, in Constanta town, southeastern Romania, the event celebrating 135 years since the "Mircea cel Batran" Naval Academy was founded.

Romanian President Establishes New Connection With People

15:14, 17 Nov. 2007
Romanian President Traian Basescu said Saturday in Romania’s southeastern city of Constanta, that "his hotline was the only solution to communicate with people," beside his website, and stressed that 11,500 calls were registered during one day.

Romanian Liberals Back Chamber Speaker Over Recent Scandal

14:30, 17 Nov. 2007
Crin Antonescu, leader of Romania’s National Liberal party, or PNL, said Saturday that his party will not punish liberal Chamber speaker Bogdan Olteanu over his recent statements regarding US Ambassador to Bucharest Nicholas Taubman, stressing that the liberals’ ”target” is to reestablish the relations with the United State.

Free Access To Museums, Theatre For Romanian Students On International Students’ Day

21:09, 16 Nov. 2007
Romania’s education minister Cristian Adomnitei said that Saturday, November 17, in celebration of the International Students’ Day, students can enjoy free access to museums, theatres and the opera.

Romanian Chamber Speaker Says Legislation To Be Amended To Suit Romania’s Needs

16:50, 16 Nov. 2007
Romanian Chamber Speaker Bogdan Olteanu Friday said that Parliament would reexamine the Law amending the criminal and criminal procedure Codes following the rules of the Romanian state and not the American one.

Italian Intellectuals Militate For The Rights Of The Rroma Population

16:19, 16 Nov. 2007
A group of Italian intellectuals launched an online petition in which they condemn the acts of violence against the Rroma population, petition that was signed by some 1,500 people.

Romanian Chamber Speaker Makes Huge Diplomatic Blooper-Opposition MP

16:17, 16 Nov. 2007
Romanian Chamber Speaker Bogdan Olteanu made a huge diplomatic blooper by personally attacking the US Ambassador to Bucharest, leader of the country’s opposition Social Democratic Party, or PSD, Mircea Geoana said Friday.

Chilean Winemakers Eye Romanian Mkt

16:02, 16 Nov. 2007
Winemakers in Chile, which is considered a “miracle” of the world wine market after its exports grew significantly in the past ten years, are seeking partnerships and mull investments on the Romanian wine market.

Romanian Exodus At Italian-Austrian Border

15:55, 16 Nov. 2007
Thousands of Romanians crossed the border between Italy and Austria this week in what appears to be turning into a genuine exodus following the recent implementation of harsh control actions against crime in Italy, Tgcom reported Friday.

Romanian Hospitals Affected By Migration– Survey

15:10, 16 Nov. 2007
Nearly 70% of manager of Romanian public health authorities said their counties are confronted with a shortage of staff due to migration, while 60% admit healthcare units have problems because of this phenomenon.

US Ambassador Should Be Expelled, Dubbed Persona Non Grata – Far-Right Official

14:36, 16 Nov. 2007
US Ambassador to Bucharest Nicholas Taubman should be expelled and declared persona non grata, said Friday Gheorghe Funar, secretary general of Romania’s far-right Greater Romania Party, or PRM.