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Romanian Central Bank Keeps Key Rate Unchanged At 8%

Romania's central bank on Tuesday decided to keep the key monetary policy rate unchanged at 8% on the year, and to maintain the current levels of minimum requirements on both foreign currency-denominated and leu-denominated liabilities.

Romania Health Ministry State Secretary Quits

Romania’s Health Ministry state secretary Adrian Streinu-Cercel resigned his position Tuesday, less than a month after he was appointed.

Romanian Lawmakers Reject Govt Emergency Decree Changing Referendum Law

The Romanian Chamber of Deputies Tuesday rejected 198 to 83 votes a government emergency decree forcing Parliament to respond to the head of state's call for a national referendum within 20 days.

Romanian Senate Decides To Exempt From Tax Pensions Smaller Than RON1,200

Romania's Senate adopted Tuesday a draft law exempting pensions lower than 1.200 lei (EUR1=RON 4.3047) from the 16% income tax.

EC Revises Up Romania’s 2010 GDP Growth To 0.5%

The European Commission revised upward its forecast for Romania’s economic growth to 0.5% in 2010, a slight improvement from a zero growth rate previously envisaged, the Commission said in its autumn forecast Tuesday.

Romania Rompetrol Opens Another Two Gas Stations On A2 Highway

Romania’s second-largest oil group Rompetrol, owned by Kazakhstan's KazMunayGaz, opened two gas stations Tuesday, one on each lane of the highway connecting capital city Bucharest to the southeastern town of Cernavoda, at kilometer 88+300, said the public roads authority CNADNR.

Romanian Unions Ask IMF To Keep Its Loan Money To Teach Politicians A Lesson

Romanian unions have asked the IMF not to disburse a third installment of a EUR12.95 billion bailout loan to teach politicians a lesson and employers said such a move would cause the country’s economy to collapse.

Romania Should Not Tax Investors’ Bourse Pft Next Yr – Presidential Candidate

Romania's social democrat presidential candidate Mircea Geoana on Tuesday said the authorities' last year decision not to tax capital market gains should be kept in 2010, to stimulate the stock market investments.

Romanian Social Democrat Head Pushes For Setting Up Of National Pharmaceutical Co

Romanian social democrat leader Mircea Geoana on Tuesday said the setting up of a national pharmaceutical company to include state-owned pharmaceutical company Antibiotice Iasi (ATB.RO) and the Bucharest Cantacuzino Institute could attract additional financial resources.

Romanian Lawmakers Adopt Draft Law To Transfer Trade Registry To Chambers Of Commerce

Romanian lawmakers adopted Monday a draft normative act regarding the transfer of Trade Registry’s offices from the Justice Ministry to Chambers of Commerce.

Romanian AH1N1 Flu Vaccine Ten Times Cheaper Than Global Producers’ – Ex Health Min

Romania’s former Health Minister Ion Bazac said Romania received offers to buy vaccines to counter the AH1N1 flu from global producers as early as this summer, but it cost EUR2 per dose just to secure a spot on the waiting list, whereas the country can make its own vaccine for just EUR0.92 per dose.

IMF Asks Romania To Cut The Cord On Big Debtors – Official

The International Monetary Fund recommended the Romanian authorities scrap subsidies for companies largely indebted to the state budget as of next year, an official of the Economy Ministry said Monday.

Four Waves Of Influenza Expected In Upcoming Two Years – Romanian Health Min Official

The influenza pandemic could last for two years, in four waves, Romanian Health Ministry secretary of state Adrian Streinu-Cercel said Monday.

MediaPro Interactiv Launches First Romanian Search Engine

Romanian MediaPro Interactiv officially launched Okidoki, the first Romanian search engine that only indexes Romanian websites, according to a press release.

Romanian Carmaker Dacia Sees Biggest Sales Increase On French Market In October

Registrations of Romanian new Dacia cars and light commercial vehicles in France registered an increase of 86% in October, up 6,895 units compared to the same period in 2008, according to the committee of French carmakers CCFA.

Romania’s Petrom Plans To Invest In Renewable Energy

Romania’s dominant oil company Petrom (SNP.RO) will “certainly” invest in renewable energy production projects and is currently analyzing some, said Monday Razvan Niculescu, head of the company’s public relations department.

Romanian Hospitals Quarantined To Prevent Spread Of AH1N1 Flu Virus

The Romanian Health Ministry’s committee coordinating AH1N1 flu virus situation on Monday decided to place all hospitals under quarantine as of Monday to prevent the spreading of the AH1N1 flu virus.

Romania Needs Single, Powerful Energy Holding – Presidency Runner

Romania needs a single national energy holding to be further capitalized and to start playing on the regional power market, social democrat presidential candidate Mircea Geoana said Monday during an economic debate.

Romanian Foreign Ministry Uses Twitter To Get Romanians Abroad To Vote For President, Referendum

Romania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs is using Twitter to promote presidential elections and the national referendum to Romanians abroad and is helped by several companies and media outlets to get Romanians travelling or living abroad to vote.

School In Romanian Capital Bucharest Closed Over Swine Flu Outbreak

A school in capital city Bucharest was closed Monday after five pupils became infected with the AH1N1 flu virus.

Romanian President Wants Right Winged Govt But No Liberal PM – Paper

Romanian President Traian Basescu said in an interview for local Romanian daily Ziarul de Iasi that he would prefer a right-wing government of democrat liberals and liberals, as in 2004 and 2008, but doesn’t want a liberal prime minster.

Ukraine Requests Closing Of Crossing Points On Romanian Border Over Flu Epidemic

Authorities in the Ukrainian region of Chernivtsi have requested several crossing points on the borders with Romania and the Republic of Moldova be closed, because of the risk of spread of the flu epidemic, according to news agency Omega.

Train Collides With Locomotive In N Romania, At Least Two Injured

A fast train hit a locomotive Monday morning in the northern Romanian county of Bistrita-Nasaud and first reports from the local emergency inspectorate indicate there are two victims of the accident, while the county prefect says three people were injured

Romanian Social Democrat Leader Wants Energy And Agric Ministers On Supreme Defense Council

Romanian social democrat presidential candidate Mircea Geoana said Monday he will propose the amendment of the law on the Supreme Defense Council to include provisions on energy and food security, with the participation of the minister for energy and minister for agriculture.

Romania Farming Agency Received RON365M For Payments In Animal Husbandry Sector

Romania’s Agriculture Ministry assigned to the Agency for Payments and Intervention in Agriculture (APIA) the first tranche of 365 million lei (EUR1=RON4.2955) for national complementary direct payments in the animal husbandry sector, the ministry said in a press release.

Romanian Ovidiu Rom Association’s Halloween Charity Ball Raised EUR350,000

The Halloween Charity Ball, held Saturday night at the Palace of Parliament in Romania’s capital Bucharest, raised around EUR350,000, according to initial estimates, the Ovidiu Rom Association said in a press release.

Forty Tourists In Romanian Hotel Sinaia Infected With AH1N1 Flu

Hotel Sinaia in the Romanian resort of Sinaia was closed Sunday evening after 40 tourists, Romanians and from abroad, were diagnosed with the AH1N1 flu virus, the Health Ministry announced.

Romania Has No Problem Paying EUR20 Bn Loan In Five Years – President

Romanian President Traian Basescu said Saturday that Romania has no problem paying the EUR20 billion loan in five years, but that a higher loan would have been a severe burden.

Four Of Five Romanian Border Police Officer Murder Suspects Released

Four of the five youths suspected of taking part in the Friday night murder of a Romanian border police officer have been released, due to a lack of evidence connecting them to the crime, while an arrest warrant was issued for the suspect apprehended in Hungary.

Romanian Wages Growing By 20-25% Not Feasible – Romanian IMF Representative

Salary and pension raises in Romania will continue to be tied to the economy’s evolution, but 20-25% increases, like in 2006 and 2007, are not feasible, according to Mihai Tanasescu, Romania’s representative to the International Monetary Fund.

Avg Price Per Km Of Hwy In Romania Is EUR3.5M – EUR8.5M – Trans Min Document

The average price for one km of highway in Romania is between EUR3.5 million and EUR8.5 million, depending on the project’s complexity, according to a Transports Ministry document signed by Minister Radu Berceanu and acquired by MEDIAFAX.

Bulgarian Nationals Carrying Amphetamine, Heroin Detained At Romanian Border

Two Bulgarian nationals were detained Saturday at the Giurgiu customs point in southern Romania, after 199 amphetamine pills and 7.48 grams of heroin were found on their person.

Romanian Police Caught Five Suspects In Border Police Officer Murder Case

The fifth suspect in the Friday night murder of the Romanian border police officer in Sannicolau Mare was caught Saturday around 4.45 p.m., with the help of Hungarian authorities, just as he was attempting to leave the country.

English Teacher On Exchange Program To Romanian School Diagnosed With AH1N1 Flu

An English teacher attending an exchange program at a high school in the central Romanian city of Sibiu was diagnosed with the AH1N1 flu and was isolated under treatment.

Romanian Border Police Officer Shot Dead In Western Town

Tiberiu Sarbu, an officer of the Romanian border police post in the western town of Sannicolau Mare was found dead Friday night outside a service station, possibly having been shot with his own weapon, investigators said.

Romanian Govt Ups Fines Ten Times For Farmers Failing To Report Sick Animals

The Romanian government approved a decision hiking ten times fines, which range from 3,000 lei (EUR1=RON4.2955) to RON6,000, for farmers failing to inform veterinarians, within maximum 48 hours, on suspicions of disease, death or culling of sick animals and failing to isolate sick animals.

Three New Confirmed Cases Of AH1N1 Flu Virus In SW Romanian County

Three Romanians, including two pupils of a school in the town of Filiasi, on Friday were diagnosed with the AH1N1 virus, according to Dolj County prefect Eugen Georgescu, who stressed their classroom will be sealed off.

Romania Health Min Places Orders For One Million Doses Of Vaccine Against AH1N1 Flu Virus

Romania's Health Ministry on Friday placed orders with four vaccine producers authorized by the European Medicines Agency for one million doses of vaccine against the AH1N1 influenza virus, according to Health Ministry state secretary Streinu Cercel.

First Romanian Space Rocket Unloaded Friday On Navy Ship For Further Launch Operation

The first Romanian spacecraft and the equipment needed for its launch will be unloaded Friday on a Military Navy ship by officials of the Aeronautics and Cosmonautics Romanian Association (ARCA), with preparations for the launch scheduled to begin next week.

Eliminating Import Duties On South Korean Cars Would Ruin Auto Industry – Romanian Carmakers

Eliminating duties for cars imported from South Korea can seriously affect the European auto market, and the Romanian auto market implicitly, along with enforcing the Free Trade Agreement between EU and South Korea, Constantin Stroe, head of the Romanian Association of Carmakers ACAROM, said Friday.