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Arab Emirates Investor Reveals $490M Plan To Build Six Factories, Romania Included

Cable producer Emirates International Investment Company (EIIC), from the United Arab Emirates has announced ambitious plans to build six hi-tech factories in several countries including Romania, at an estimated cost of Dh1.8 billion ($490 million), according to Arabian site Business 24-7.

One Dead, Four Injured After Train Goes Off Rail In SE Romania

A fast train going on the route Ploiesti-Iasi went off the rails on Saturday at 17:00 local time, near the train station in Valea Calugareasca city, Prahova county, and one person, a 17 year-old girl, lost her life in the incident.

Romanian Pres Says Citizens Should Not Be Afraid Of State Institutions

Romanian president Traian Basescu said on national television that people no longer have to be afraid to “have contacts with the state’s institutions,” stating that the main purpose of the state’s control bodies is to “control.”

Romania Must Start Accessing EU Funds –President

Romanian president Traian Basescu said on national TV station TVR 1 that the most important objective for Romania is the accessing of European funds without which the country cannot develop the infrastructure and environment projects nor overcome the problems in the agriculture sector.

Travelers To Enjoy Free Libraries In Six Romanian Train Stations

Romania’s Ministry of Transportation and the Writers Union have arranged public libraries in waiting rooms in six Romanian train stations, which aim to encourage reading and promote Romanian contemporary writers.

New Italian Interior Min Aims Limiting Rroma People Access To Italy

The new Italian interior minister, Roberto Maroni, drew up a plan aiming to limit the access of the Rroma population, mostly coming from Romania, on Italy’s territory.

Romania-US Bilateral Immunity Agreement Not In Effect – Official

The spokesman of the Romanian Foreign Affairs Ministry, Ilie Banica, told MEDIAFAX Friday that Romania did not ratify Bilateral Immunity Agreement with the United States, therefore it is not effective and cannot be rescinded.

Romanian Football Mogul Probed For Bribery

Romanian football club Steaua Bucharest officials Gigi Becali and Teia Sponte, as well as football club Universitatea Cluj president Anton Dobos and one of his acquaintances, Traian Bendorfean, are under criminal investigation for corruption, said the National Anticorruption Department (DNA).

Romanian PM Unalarmed Over Intl Financial Turmoil

The Romanian Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu said Friday the global financial turmoil and the weakening U.S. dollar aren’t causes for alarm in Romania, but expressed concern over the country’s poor infrastructure and communication sectors unsuitable for its robust economic growth.

Some 150 Miners Stage Peaceful Protest SW Romania

Some 150 miners in Zegujani, Mehedinti county, southwestern Romania, protested Friday when they heard the mine’s manager, Alexandru Mihart, would be sacked. The management said the protest is ungrounded.

Romanian Jan-Mar Trade Deficit Widens To EUR4.85B

Romania's trade deficit widened around 10% in January-March to EUR4.85 billion from EUR4.4 billion in the same period last year, on higher imports from the European Union, the National Statistics Institute said Friday.

EP Urges Romania To Rescind Bilateral Immunity Agreement With USA

The European Parliament Thursday urged Romania to rescind its bilateral immunity agreement with the U.S. regarding the International Criminal Court (ICC), EP said in its annual report on human rights in the world in 2007.

Romania Reports Fewer Smuggled, Counterfeit Cigarettes In 2007

The quantity of counterfeit cigarettes introduced in Romania slightly decreased in 2007 compared to 2006, on Thursday said Dan Bucur, head in charge with the Fraud Investigation Department.

BCR Says Romania May Adopt Euro In 2014, But Needs Economic Reform

Romania’s largest lender by assets Banca Comerciala Romana, or BCR, said Romania may adopt euro in 2014, but the process will depend on the economic reform, considering that the next three years are essential for meeting the target.

Romania Ctrl Bk Ups 08 CPI Forecast To 6% Vs 5.9%

Romanian central bank governor Mugur Isarescu said Thursday the bank expects the country’s consumer price index to rise 6% this year, slightly up from its previous forecast of 5.9%.

Romanian Anticorruption Prosecutors Probe Football Mogul In Bribe Case

Romanian anticorruption prosecutors started to probe FC Steaua owner Gigi Becali for alleged EUR1.7 million worth bribe found upon five of his close acquaintances.

Anticorruption Prosecutors Detained Five Acquaintances Of Football Mogul Becali

Romania’s anticorruption department DNA detained Wednesday evening in Cluj-Napoca, central Romania, five close acquaintances of football mogul Gigi Becali.

Romanian 1Q Industrial Output +5.4% On Year

Romanian industrial output grew 5.4% on the year in the first quarter of 2008 driven by energy and manufacturing growth, the National Statistics Institute said Thursday.

Authorities Launch Probe Into Possible Card Frauds At Romanian Bk Bancpost

The Romanian authorities started an investigation into possible credit frauds at lender Bancpost, after several bank customers filed complaints over missing money, head of the Informational Crime Service, under-commissioner Virgil Spiridon, said Wednesday.

Microsoft Romania General Manager Leaves Company

Microsoft Romania announced Silviu Hotaran will no longer fill the general manager position as of August 31, 2008.

Romania Meets One Condition For Euro Adoption So Far – EC Report

Romania meets one sole criterion for adopting the single currency so far, namely the criterion on the government budgetary position, according to a report published Wednesday by the European Commission.

Steel Pipe Mkr ArcelorMittal To Compensate Protesters

The management of a unit of steel pipe maker ArcelorMittal Galati promised employees compensations for the financial losses they claimed.

Romanian Flag Carrier Tarom Signs Skyteam Pre-Accession Deal

Romania’s flag carrier Tarom and SkyTeam signed an 18-month pre-accession agreement and the Romanian airliner will invest $2 million to be included in the Alliance.

Romania’s Petrom 1Q Net Pft Doubles To RON977M

Romania’s largest vertically integrated oil company Petrom SA (SNP.RO) said Wednesday its first quarter net profit more than doubled to 977 million lei (EUR1=RON3.6506) from RON381 million a year earlier, on higher oil prices and positive restructuring results.

Romania’s 1Q Pwr Output Up 3.8% On Yr, Resources Dn 2%

Romania’s power output rose 3.8% on the year in January-March, while the country’s total power resources fell 2% on the year in the same period of 2008, the National Statistics Institute said Wednesday.

Romania’s Mar Net Salary Up 5.1% M-M To RON1.192

Romania's net average salary was up 5.1% to 1.192 lei (EUR1-RON3.6506) in real terms in March 2008, compared with February 2008, the National Institute for Statistics said Wednesday.

EC Sues Portugal, UK Over Recognition of Professional Qualifications in Romania, Bulgaria

The European Commission has decided to refer Portugal and the United Kingdom to the European Court of Justice over their failure to transpose in their national legislation the measures recognizing the professional qualifications of specialists coming from Romania and Bulgaria, a press release reads.

Italians Say Rroma People Are Lazy, Rude And Violent- Poll

Most Italians consider that Rroma immigrants are the ones committing illegalities in Italy and they would avoid becoming neighbors with Romanians or rroma citizens established in Italy, according to a poll conducted by two research institutes, Focus Marketing from Napoli (Italy) and Metro Media Transilvania from Romania respectively.

EU Warns Romania Over Discriminatory Dividend Taxation

The European Commission on Tuesday sent a letter of formal notice to Romania about its tax rules, under which dividends paid to foreign companies (outbound dividends) may be taxed more heavily than dividends paid to domestic companies (domestic dividends).

Sugababes Come To Romania On June 3

Brit pop group Sugababes will give a concert in Bucharest, on June 3 announced the representatives of mobile telecom operator Orange, the organizer of the event.

Romanian Exhaust Box Mkr Coturbi Employees Go On Warning Strike

A total number of 95 of the 130 employees of Romanian exhaust box supplier Coturbi, found on the Dacia platform, went on a two-hour warning strike Tuesday, after failed salary negotiations with company management.

Romania Senate Sets Up Inquiry Committee Into Terror Suspect Escape

Romania’s Senate Tuesday decided to set up an inquiry committee to investigate the escape of Syrian businessman Omar Hayssam, accused of masterminding the kidnapping of three Romanian journalists in Iraq in 2005.

Romania Ctrl Bk Raises Key Rate To 9.75% From 9.5%

Romania's central bank Tuesday raised its main lending rate by 25 basis points for the fifth time in a row to 9.75% from 9.5%, the bank said in a statement.

Romanian Chamber Tacitly OKs Ordinance On Communist Police Archive Study Organization

The law approving government emergency ordinance 24/2008 on the structure studying the archives of the former communist police, or CNSAS, was approved tacitly Tuesday by the Chamber of Deputies.

Romanian Pres Says His Suspension Was Coup D’État

Romanian president Traian Basescu said on national radio station RRA that the honorary president of the social democrats, Ion Iliescu, is an "expert in coups d’état" and staged his suspension from office in April 2007, following negotiations with the prime minister.

Romanian Anticorruption Prosecutors To Charge Liberal Democrat With Abuse Of Office In Lottery File

Romanian democrat liberal vice-president Cristian Boureanu said Tuesday anticorruption prosecutors are charging him with abuse of office in the file involving the Romanian Lottery.

Romanian CEC Deferred Sale Seen Positive -PM

The deferred sale of Romania’s last remaining state-owned savings bank Casa de Economii si Consemnatiuni, or CEC, was not a failure as it would only have favored a profit-driven investor, failing to meet clients’ requirements for customized services, Premier Calin Popescu Tariceanu said Tuesday.

Romania’s Petrom Hikes Pump Prices By RON0.12 Per Liter

Romania’s largest oil company Petrom SA (SNP.RO) hiked Tuesday gasoline and diesel oil pump prices by 0.12 lei (EUR1=RON3.6323) per liter, the company said in a statement.

Romanian President Urges Return Of Ambassador To Poland

Romanian President Traian Basescu a said Tuesday on the national radio station RRA that Romania’s ambassador to Poland never mentioned in monthly reports the case of the Romanian national who died in a Polish hospital.

Romania’s Economy Seen Growing 7% In 1Q – FinMin

Romania’s economic growth is expected to stand at 7% in the first quarter of 2008, compared with a 6% growth in the first quarter last year, Romanian Finance Minister Varujan Vosganian said Tuesday in a press conference.