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Romania Realty Mkt Prices Scary If Real – Ctrl Bker

Romania’s central bank is talking to notaries public to get a real picture of the country’s real estate market, but if prices are real, that is reason for great concern, central bank governor Mugur Isarescu said Thursday.

Romanian Social Democrats Want Woman PM In Next Elections

Romania’s leftist opposition Social Democratic Party leader Mircea Geoana said Thursday in the debate "Leader She. Creative leadership solutions for the 21st century", that the first step to having a majority of women in politics is having a woman prime minister come the next elections.

Romanian Utility Prices To Stay Put Despite Distributor Claims

Romania doesn’t plan to raise natural gas or electricity household bills until July 1, as repeatedly requested by Romanian gas distributors who cited higher gas import costs, Romanian Finance and Economy Minister Varujan Vosganian said Thursday.

Cut-off In Mother-Bank Funding Could Spell Trouble For Two Romanian Banks – Ctrl Bk Official

A total cut-off in financing lines by mother-banks would spell trouble for two Romanian banks and would have a slight impact on the country’s economic growth, Romania’s central bank deputy governor Cristian Popa said Thursday.

Romanian Ctrl Bk Head: Inflation To Hover Around Peak By July

Romania’s inflation will hover over the next three months around the 8.63% peak touched in March, before slowing down in August, Romanian central bank governor Mugur Isarescu said Thursday during a financial seminar.

Romanian Orthodox Church Continues To Observe Law On Securitate Files -Official

The Romanian Orthodox Church (BOR) will continue to observe law 24/2008 on the access to the files of former communist secret police Securitate and exposure of the Securitate, under the form pending adoption in Parliament, hoping any action in this respect will be guided by truth, BOR spokesperson Constantin Stoica said Wednesday.

U.S. Ford To Pay Back Romania EUR27M State Aid By Jun 26

Romania’s privatization agency AVAS will notify U.S. giant Ford it has until June 26 to pay back Romania EUR27 million in illegal state aid granted with the sale of romania’s auto-assembly plant Automobile Craiova.

Analysts Worried About Foreign Negative Sentiment On Romanian Economy

Romanian economic analysts on Wednesday voiced their concern over recent estimations on the country’s financial and banking evolution made by foreign analysts, saying their pessimistic evaluations come at a time when foreign investors show prudence toward emerging markets.

Romanian Construction Mkt To See Record Growth Until 2010 – Report

Romania’s construction sector rose 33.6% last year, to EUR15 billion, and will see record figures in the next two, three years, driven by the improving economic situation and EU accession, according to a report of Polish publishing, consulting and market research company PMR.

CEZ Says Talks For Construction Of Romanian Nukes 3,4 Are Frozen

The talks for building nuclear reactors three and four at Cernavoda nuclear power plant have been halted as the Romanian government has introduced new negotiations terms, Czech CEZ said Wednesday.

Moscow Will Never Decide Who Joins NATO – Romanian President

Romanian president Traian Basescu said Wednesday during a debate that "Moscow will never decide who joins and who doesn’t join NATO".

Romanian Govt Backs Car Tax Even At The Cost Of Votes – PM

The Romanian government will continue to back the pollution tax on cars even if the decision is highly unpopular and could cost the ruling liberal government votes in this year’s elections, Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu said in Wednesday’s cabinet meeting.

Romanian Govt Allows Gift Vouchers Within Budget Limits

The Romanian government amended Wednesday the emergency ordinance banning the granting of gift vouchers to public sector employees, allowing vouchers to be distributed with approved budget limits, labor minister Paul Pacuraru told MEDIAFAX.

Romanian Law On Wealth Control Deemed Unconstitutional

Romania’s Constitutional Court deemed unconstitutional Wednesday the law for the statement and screening of the wealth of dignitaries, magistrates, people with positions in management and control and public servants.

Romanian Social Democrats, Conservatives Sign Political Collaboration Protocol Thursday

Romania’s leftist opposition Social Democratic Party and the Conservative Party will sign a political collaboration protocol Thursday, conservative leader Daniela Popa said Wednesday following a meeting with social democrats.

Romanian Court Deems ArcelorMittal Strike Illegal

The Galati Court Wednesday deemed illegal the general strike of employees of steel pipe maker ArcelorMittal, after the Court of Appeal had ruled Tuesday night to suspend the protest for 30 days.

Romanian Parliament OKs Expropriation Law For Mining Ops

The Romanian Parliament adopted Tuesday a law on speeding up the expropriation of lands necessary for mining exploitation, aimed to hike coal production in order to provide resources to the National Energy System, the Ministry of Economy and Finance said Wednesday.

Romanian Teachers Say No Gift Vouchers For Easter Spells Religious Discrimination

Unions of teachers in Romania’s capital city Bucharest sent an open letter to Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu Wednesday saying the ban on granting gift vouchers creates discrimination on religious criteria.

Romanian Real Estate Leasing Mkt Tripled In 07, To EUR461.3M

Romania’s real estate leasing market tripled on the year in 2007 to EUR461.3 million, according to data from the Romanian Leasing and Non-Bank Financial Services Association, or ALB.

Work Resumed At Romanian Steel Pipe Mkr ArcelorMittal

Employees of steel pipe maker ArcelorMittal Galati, eastern Romania, who were on strike for two days, resumed work after a court decided to suspend their protest action for 30 days, and workers will rally in front of the factory on Wednesday.

Fashion Retailer TinaR To Float Shrs On Bucharest Bourse By ‘09

Romanian fashion designer and retailer TinaR plans to float a 25% stake on the Bucharest bourse by next year, in a move to obtain financing for network expansion, the company said in a statement Tuesday.

Romania To Pay EUR70M Damages To Buyers Of Bucharest Hotel Complex

The Romanian authorities have to pay damages of over EUR70 million to the buyers of Bucharest-based hotel complex Lido, following a court order on retrocession of the buildings, Lido officials said Tuesday.

EIU Keeps Warnings On Romania’s Vulnerability To Intl Financial Mkt Turmoil

The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) in its latest global forecast report maintained warnings on Romania’s vulnerability to international financial market turmoil, mainly due to its high external financing needs.

Romania’s New Foreign Min Takes Oath

Romanian diplomat Lazar Comanescu, the country’s new foreign affairs minister, took the oath Tuesday at the investiture ceremony at the presidential palace.

US Emerson Opens EUR120M Factory In Romania

US company Emerson opened Tuesday a factory producing electric power generators and gas regulator devices in Industrial Park Tetarom II in Cluj-Napoca city.

Romanian Conservatives, Social Democrats Continue Parliament Elections Alliance Talks

The national council of Romania’s Conservative Party, or PC, decided Tuesday to continue talks with leftist opposition social democrats (PSD) to form an alliance for parliament elections in the fall, party leader Daniela Popa said.

Romanian Senate Allows State-Owned News Agency Rompres To Go Back To Communist-Era Name

The Romanian Senate in plenary session Tuesday adopted 41 to five votes and ten abstentions an amendment to the law regulating the state-owned news agency Rompres, allowing it to go back to its old name, Agerpres.

Romanian Senate Bans Advertising For Tobacco Products

Romanian senators enacted Tuesday 45 to two votes and six abstentions the government ordinance banning advertising for tobacco products in written media, event halls and cinemas.

Including Road Tolls In Fuel Prices Charges Drivers Not Using National Roads – Fin Min

The inclusion of tolls for the use of national roads in fuel pump prices would implicitly up these prices, would unjustifiably tax car owners who don’t use national roads frequently and would up public transportation prices, Romanian finance minister Varujan Vosganian said Tuesday.

Romanian 1Q Budget Surplus At 0.1% Of GDP –Fin Min

Romania’s consolidated state budget ran a small surplus of 0.1% of gross domestic product in the first quarter of this year, Romanian Finance Minister Varujan Vosganian said Tuesday.

Dutch Vimetco, Romanian InterAgro Set JV To Build Pwr Plant In Romania

Dutch Vimetco, owner of Romanian Alro Slatina, the biggest aluminum producer in Eastern Europe, and local InterAgro, specialized in the export of agricultural chemical fertilizers, set up a joint venture to build a high-capability power plant near the city of Turnu Magurele, southern Romania.

Romanian Jan-Feb Curr Acct Gap 5.6% Wider On Yr

Romania’s current account deficit widened a slight 5.6% on the year in January-February to EUR2.193 billion from a EUR2.076 billion deficit in the same period last year, preliminary data from the central bank showed Tuesday.

Romanian Prosecutors Probe Privatization Auth Head Over Alleged Exaggerate Expenses

Romanian anticorruption prosecutors subpoenaed the head of the privatization authority AVAS, Teodor Atanasiu for a hearing on Tuesday in connection to his activity as president of the County Council in Alba, central country.

Romania Public TV Network Reports EUR8.4M Losses In 2007

Romania’s public television network SRTv reported losses of approximately EUR8.4 million in 2007, according to SRTv’s yearly financial report.

Petrom Ups Diesel Oil Price By RON0.09 Per Liter

Petrom will hike Tuesday prices for diesel oil by RON0.09 per liter, due to higher international oil prices, the company said Monday.

Romanian Pres OKs New Foreign Affairs Min

Romanian president Traian Basescu signed the decree appointing Lazar Comanescu as foreign affairs minister, according to the Presidential Administration.

S&P Keeps Romania Outlook To Negative

Standard&Poor’s on Monday affirmed its “BBB-/A-3” foreign currency and “BBB/A-3” local currency sovereign credit ratings on Romania, with negative outlook, reflecting the country’s inappropriate policy response to the growing macroeconomic imbalances.

EC Wants New Danube Bridge Btw Romania, Bulgaria Operational By End 2010

The cross-border bridge over Danube River between Romanian city of Calafat and Bulgaria’s Vidin should be operational by the end of 2010, European Commission official Jeroen van Oel told the Bulgarian side during a meeting on the project, quoted by Bulgarian daily “Dnevnik.

Bucharest Office Space Rents To Hike By 20- 25% In ’08 – DTZ

Rents for office spaces in Romania's capital city Bucharest will climb by 20-25% in 2008, as supply will maintain below demand, therefore, companies started to buy office spaces, rather than rent them, to reduce costs, according to estimations by real estate company DTZ Echinox.

Romanian PM Dismisses Statements On Foreign Min Leadership

Romania’s Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu, also head of the National Liberal Party, or PNL, on Monday denied ever discussing during the party’s Standing Office meeting the situation at the Foreign Affairs Ministry following Adrian Cioroianu’s resignation.