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Cruise Ship Stuck In Sand On Bulgarian Danube Shore

A cruise ship carrying about 150 passengers is stuck on the Bulgarian shore of the Danube, upstream of Bechet in southern Romania, because of the river’s low level.

U.S. Ambassador: Romanian President Discussed F16 Purchase In Washington

U.S. Ambassador Mark Gitenstein said Thursday that one of the issues discussed by Romanian President Basescu in the USA was the purchase of F16 fighters, possibly through a regional agreement.

Romanian Fmr Minister Dan Ioan Popescu Spent RON4M From Illegally Obtained Income – Court

Romania's High Court of Justice ordered the seizure of more than 4 million lei (about EUR933,000) from the wealth of former minister Dan Ioan Popescu and his wife, as the sum the two spent derives from income obtained illegally, according to the Court’s motivation.

Romanian Lower House Committee Draws Up New Report On Stray Dog Bill

The Romanian Chamber of Deputies’ public administration committee on Wednesday drew up a new report on a draft law regarding stray dogs, and decided local authorities may take any measure concerning stray dogs, including euthanize them, only after they consult the citizens.

Romanian PM Sends Proposition For European Affairs Minister To Parliament

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc has sent the Parliament the proposition to set up the Ministry for European Affairs, the Government said in a press release Wednesday.

Romania’s Anticorruption Strategy Sets Evaluation Indicators Of Measures Preventing Corruption

Romania’s draft National Anticorruption Strategy for 2011-2014 sets a series of measures aimed to prevent corruption, such as declaring gifts, transparency in decision making, or setting a register noting code of conduct breaches by high officials and public servants.

NATO Welcomes Signing Of Antimissile Shield Agreement By Romania And USA

NATO secretary general Anders Fogh Rasmussen on Wednesday welcomed the signing by Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Baconschi and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton of the agreement on the deployment of anti-missile interceptors in Romania.

Romanian President Says U.S. Missile Defense Shield Agreement Could Go Public In Ten Days

The U.S.-Romanian agreement on the deployment of the U.S. ballistic missile defense system in Romania signed Tuesday in Washington contains no classified clauses, President Traian Basescu said Wednesday upon his return from the States.

Dacia To Move Part Of Sandero Production To Morocco, To Build More Dusters In Romania

Carmaker Automobile Dacia will move part of its Sandero model production from Mioveni, Romania to the Renault factory in Casablanca, Morocco, in order to expand production of the Duster model, said Jacques Chauvet, Renault manager for the Euromed region and Dacia chairman.

Bitdefender Delays Listing Plans After 2012

Shareholders of IT security solutions provider Bitdefender are still considering listing on the bourse, probably after 2012, when the company will have “consistent value”, Tuesday said Florin Talpes, president of the Softwin group of companies.

Romania Prepares Aid Scheme To Support IT&C Companies Which Plan Local Investments

The Romanian Communications Ministry is working on a state aid scheme aimed to support IT&C companies which plan to further develop their business in Romania, Communications Minister Valerian Vreme told MEDIAFAX.

Romanian Tourism Min Wants To Privatize Government Hotels

Romanian Regional Development and Tourism Minister Elena Udrea said Tuesday, in a meeting with tour operators, that she wants to privatize the hotels managed by the State Protocol Patrimony Administration (RA-APPS).

Romanian PM Confirms Leonard Orban To Be Appointed EU Fund Minster

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc said Tuesday he will send the Parliament Wednesday the proposition for presidential adviser Leonard Orban to be appointed minister of European Funds.

Romanian Ruling Coalition Endorses Leonard Orban For EU Fund Minister

Presidential adviser and former EU commissioner Leonard Orban has the ruling coalition’s approval to be appointed minister for the Coordination of European Fund Absorption, people close to the matter told MEDIAFAX Tuesday.

Secretary Clinton, Romanian FM Baconschi To Sign U.S.-Romanian Ballistic Missile Defense Agreement

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Romanian Foreign Minister Teodor Baconschi Tuesday will sign the agreement on the deployment of the U.S. Ballistic Missile Defense System in Romania, according to a press release on the U.S. Department of State website.

Romanian President Signs Decree Dismissing Adviser Peter Eckstein Kovacs

Romanian President Traian Basescu on Monday signed the decree releasing Peter Eckstein Kovacs from his duties as presidential adviser, the president’s office said in a press release.

Romanian Economy Ministry Announces First Cos To Have Private Management

Hidroelectrica, Oltchim, SNLO, Electrica Furnizare and Romarm are the first companies under the authority of the Romanian Economy Ministry to have private management, according to an official announcement.

Romania’s New Civil Code To Enter Force On October 1

Romania's new Civil Code, regarding property and non-property relationships between individuals, is to enter force on October 1.

Romania Tourism Revenue Down 10% In Summer ’11, Despite Activity Hike

Corina Martin, head of the Romanian Tourism Agency Association and of the "Litoral-Delta Dunarii" Association, said Thursday that hotel revenues were 10% lower this summer compared to last year, despite a slight increase in the number of tourists.

Romanian Govt Might Approve Letter Of Intent To IMF Next Week

Romania's Government plans to convene a meeting for the beginning of next week, to approve the final draft of the letter of intent agreed upon with the International Monetary Fund, European Commission and World Bank in this summer's evaluation mission, people close to the matter told MEDIAFAX.

Romanian Govt Decides Health Ministry Will Coordinate Health Insurance House

Romania's Health Ministry will coordinate the National Health Insurance House, but the House will remain autonomous and in charge of the healthcare budget, the Government decided Wednesday through an emergency ordinance.

Romanian Lower House Will Re-Read Bill On Pension Health Insurance Contributions – PM

Romania's ruling coalition still supports requiring health insurance contributions from pensions higher than 740 lei (EUR174) and the ordinance introducing this measure will be sent back to the committee for labor by the Chamber of Deputies plenum, said Prime Minister Emil Boc.

EC Not Currently Planning To Ban Cyanide Mining, Despite MEPs Request

The European Commission (EC) is not currently planning to ban mining with cyanide, as it considers such a decision is not justified from environmental and health perspectives.

Romanian Railway Unionists Threaten New Strikes Over Planned Salary Cuts

Romanian state-owned railway CFR unionists are prepared to go on strike again if the management reduces the working week to four days, "Miscare-Comercial" union federation president Gheorghe Fratica told MEDIAFAX on Wednesday.

Tom Jones To Play Concert In Bucharest On Nov 17

Welsh singer Tom Jones, 71, will play a concert in Bucharest on November 17, organizers D&D East Entertainment told MEDIAFAX Wednesday.

Romanian Labor Min: 2012 Pension Indexation Depends On 3Q Results

Romanian Labor Minister Sebastian Lazaroiu said Tuesday that, although the Government has approved raising pensions according to inflation and 50% of the raise in gross wages in 2012, 2013 and 2014, this measure will not be implemented if data on budget collections in the third quarter "looks bad."

Romania To Introduce Vehicle Emissions Certificate, Eliminate Pollution Tax In 2013

Romanian Environment Minister Laszlo Borbely said Tuesday that, in mid-2012 or in 2013, he plans to eliminate the pollution tax paid upon a car's first registration and introduce a "green card" certifying the amount of emissions produced by the vehicle.

Economic Growth Needs Stable Prices – Central Bank Governor

Romanian central bank governor Mugur Isarescu on Monday said that growth cannot be achieved merely by using more money, and economic growth requires stable prices.

Romania May Keep Some Energy Price Regulation Beyond 2015

Romanian energy regulator ANRE may keep applying current pricing regulations for electricity and gas beyond 2015, for certain categories of clients, despite deregulation agreements concluded between the government and the International Monetary Fund.

EXCLUSIVE: Romanian PM Might Propose Setting Up Ministry For EU Funds This Week

Romanian Prime Minister Emil Boc this week might put forward a proposition to set up a Ministry for European Funds, democrat liberal MP Sulfina Barbu told MEDIAFAX.

Over One Million New Labor Contracts Registered In Romania Under New Labor Code – PM

Nearly one million new work contracts have been registered in Romania since the new Labor Code took effect, Prime Minister Emil Boc said Saturday at the summer school of his ruling Democratic Liberal Party’s youth organization.

Germany Still Against Romania, Bulgaria In Schengen – Press

The German Interior Ministry has no intention whatsoever to reverse its negative opinion on the readiness of Romania and Bulgaria to enter the Schengen area, Novinite.com reported Sunday.

Romania To Reanalyze Rosia Montana Gold Mining Project

Romania’s Economy ministry will reanalyze the country’s contract with Canada’s Gabriel Resources on the gold mining project in the western Rosia Montana, minister Ion Ariton told a news conference Saturday.

Romanian Transport Min: Bucharest-Constanta Highway To Be Completed By End-2012

Romanian Transport Minister Anca Boagiu said that, by the end of next of year, the Bucharest-Constanta highway will be completed and open for traffic, and the ministry will finish evaluating the bids received for the construction of the 20.5 km-long Cernavoda-Medgidia section.

Romania Willing To Participate In Reconstruction Of Post-Gaddafi Libya

Romania supports the Libyan people and the National Transitional Council of Libya in their endeavor to build democracy in a post-Gaddafi world, the Presidential Administration said in a press release Friday.

Romanian Govt Wants 2012 Unitary Wage Law Approved By November

The Romanian Government wants the Parliament to adopt by November the bill on wages in the public sector in 2012, according to the Executive’s list of legislative priorities for this year’s second parliamentary session.

Romania To Eliminate Incentives In The Public Sector Starting January 2012

The Romanian Government decided to eliminate incentives in the public sector starting January 1, 2012, people close to the matter told MEDIAFAX Thursday.

Romania’s Only Libyan Partner Is National Transitional Council – President

Romanian President Traian Basescu on Thursday said the only partner Romania recognizes in Libya is the National Transitional Council.

Romania Supports Bilateral Negotiations Between Palestinian, Israeli Authorities – President

Romanian President Traian Basescu on Thursday said Palestinian and Israeli authorities should hold bilateral negotiations regarding a Palestinian state and reach an agreement to suit both parties.

Romania Won’t Recognize Kosovo Until Belgrade, Pristina Solve Tensions – President

Romanian President Traian Basescu on Thursday said Romania will not recognize Kosovo as a state until Belgrade and Pristina settle their disputes.