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Romanian Defense Minister Maintains Stance On Chad Issue

19:12, 15 Feb. 2008
Asked whether Romania’s participation in the Chad mission was debated within the meeting of the country’s national defense council on Friday, defense minister Teodor Melescanu said that nothing had changed in the meantime.

No Ford, Renault Comments On Vosganian Car Tax Statement

17:58, 15 Feb. 2008
Carmakers Ford and Renault stuck to their business plans and did not comment the statements made by Romanian economy and finance minister Varujan Vosganian, who said that the two large constructors would drop local investments if the car tax were eliminated.

Romanian Constitutional Court Motivates Justice Ministry Nomination Decision

16:27, 15 Feb. 2008
The Romanian Constitutional Court published Friday the motivation for the decision in the Norica Nicolai case, showing that the president is allowed to reject the minister nominee one time, since the prime minister remains sole nominator of ministry candidates.

Higher Excises To Drive Cigarette Prices In Romania Up 35-40%

15:30, 15 Feb. 2008
The proposal to increase excises for cigarettes to make up for a potential lowering to 5% of the value added tax on basic food products would lead to a 35-40% increase in cigarette prices, encouraging contraband, tobacco producers say.

Three Romanian Sailors Abandoned On Chinese Airport

14:24, 15 Feb. 2008
Three Romanian sailors are abandoned since two days ago on Dalian airport in China, with no money or immediate possibilities to return to Romania, said Friday Adrian Mihalcioiu, official of the International Federation of Transporters in Romania.

Romanian President Meets EU Military Committee Head Before Kosovo Mission

13:58, 15 Feb. 2008
Romanian president Traian Basescu met Friday with General Henri Bentégeat, chairman of the European union Military Committee.

Former Justice Min Called To Answer To Anticorruption Prosecutors

12:31, 15 Feb. 2008
Romania’s former justice minister Tudor Chiuariu on Friday appeared before anticorruption prosecutors to answer questions on the signing of a government decision regarding a certain piece of land within the administration of the Post Office.

New Car Registrations In Romania Up 34.5% On Yr In Jan

11:14, 15 Feb. 2008
The number of new car registrations in Romania increased 34.5% on the year in January, to 29,495 units, preliminary data from the European Association of Car Makers, or ACEA.

Heavy Metal Band Manowar To Play Bucharest July 7

11:02, 15 Feb. 2008
US heavy metal band Manowar will have a concert in Bucharest on July 7, organizer Kompas Events said.

Romanian Govt Changes Car Tax Calculation Method Again

10:14, 15 Feb. 2008
The draft ordinance regarding Romania’s car tax will be amended, introducing new rules to correlate the level of the tax with that of polluting emissions, after the country consults with the European Commission, Prime Minister Tariceanu said.

Romanian PM, Security Adviser Met Taubman For Talks On NATO Summit – Sources

20:38, 14 Feb. 2008
Romanian Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu and his security adviser, Stejarel Olaru, met US Ambassador in Bucharest Nicholas Taubman, while one if the topics covered was the NATO summit in April.

Social Democrat Submits Draft To Cancel Car Tax

19:42, 14 Feb. 2008
Social democrat senator Serban Nicolae submitted Thursday with Romania’s Senate a draft law on eliminating the country’s car tax.

Romania’s AVAS May Hike Stake In Oil Co Petrom

19:16, 14 Feb. 2008
Romanian privatization authority AVAS might increase its stake in oil company Petrom (SNP.RO) to at least 25%, by transferring a stake from Romanian investment fund Fondul Proprietatea, in order to benefit from a firmer position in the decision-making process.

Draft Law Initiators To Decide Whether Draft Needs OK Of Other Institutions

19:13, 14 Feb. 2008
The institution initiating a draft normative act will decide, depending on the area regulated, if the draft needs the go-ahead from the High Council for National Defense, the High Council of Magistrates, the Competition Council and/or the Court of Accounts.

Romanian Econ Fin Min Asks Financial Guard To Focus On Big Game

19:06, 14 Feb. 2008
Romanian economy and finance minister Varujan Vosganian asked the financial guard to redirect control activities towards large tax evasion, especially regarding VAT and excises, and to correctly state the risk zones in the area.

Romanian Local Authorities Remain Quite Centralized – Fitch

17:19, 14 Feb. 2008
Local authorities in Romania are still strongly centralized, even though EU accession, coupled with legislative changes in the past two years might have significant contributions in their efficient and effective decentralization, according to financial evaluation agency Fitch Ratings.

Syrian Justice Evader Lawyers Say Panel Of Judges Is Incompatible

16:34, 14 Feb. 2008
The lawyers of Syrian businessman Omar Hayssam and of Mustafa Tartoussi Thursday submitted a request to change the panel of judges assigned to try Hayssam’s flight from the country.

Pedophile Who Aggressed Two Children Is In Police Custody

14:41, 14 Feb. 2008
The man who molested two children, a seven year-old boy and an eleven year-old girl, was caught by the Bucharest police and during questioning, confessed his crime, on Thursday said Christian Ciocan, spokesperson with the Bucharest Police.

Romania 2007 Curr Acct Gap Widens 66.1% YY

14:21, 14 Feb. 2008
Romania's current account deficit widened 66.1% on the year in 2007 to EUR16.87 billion, mainly due to a larger trade deficit, central bank preliminary data showed Thursday.

Romania’s Ex President Against Early Elections This Year

13:53, 14 Feb. 2008
Romania’s former president, social democrat Ion Iliescu, said Thursday nobody is interested in having early elections during an election year when the top priority is the organization of legislative elections.

EXCLUSIVE: Romanian Lottery Forced To Pay Football Federation EUR5M

13:34, 14 Feb. 2008
The Romanian lottery on Thursday was foreclosed by the Romanian Football Federation and forced to pay 20% of the money it collected for sporting bets in 2003-2005, amounting to RON18 million (EUR5 million).

Govt Denies Aid To Landslide Hit Area, Locals Outraged

12:39, 14 Feb. 2008
Nicolae Stanisor, mayor of Mateesti, in Romania’s southwestern county of Valcea, is outraged by the government’s decision to grant no financial aid to the families whose homes were destroyed by landslides at a mining debris site in the area.

French Carmaker Renault Reports 2.1% Hike In Sales In 2007

12:24, 14 Feb. 2008
The net profit of French carmaker Renault lowered by 7.6% in 2007, to EUR2.73 billion, and worldwide sales rose 2.1%, to 2.48 million units, mainly due to Logan model, the company said Thursday.

Romanian Social Democrat Head Sees Early Elections As Crisis Vent

20:48, 13 Feb. 2008
Romanian Social Democratic Party resident Mircea Geoana, stated at the end of the party’s Executive Committee meeting that, in his opinion, the only solution to overcome the political "standstill" generated by the president and the prime minister would be early parliament elections.

Econ Min: Romgaz Is Profitable, Has Strategic Importance For Romania

19:46, 13 Feb. 2008
Romania’s Economy and Finance Minister Varujan Vosganian said in a statement that gas company Romgaz Medias is profitable and has a strategic importance for the country’s economy.

Romanian Gas Prod Romgaz Should Be Closed Down – Patriciu

18:00, 13 Feb. 2008
Businessman Dinu Patriciu, president of Romania’s oil company Rompetrol, said Wednesday that Romgaz Medias, one of Romania’s largest gas producers, should be closed down as it has been spending the public money for 18 years, and is partially responsible for the natural gas price hike.

Romanian PM Disavows Resignation Option

17:18, 13 Feb. 2008
Romanian Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu said he will not resign his position to trigger early elections and that his objectives, as head of Government and leader of the Liberal Party, differ from those of the social democrats, pointing out that the opposition can resort to a no-confidence motion.

Oil Tycoon Patriciu Says Will Fund Election Campaign Of Parties He Likes

16:14, 13 Feb. 2008
Romanian businessman Dinu Patriciu, the richest man in Romania in 2007 according to business weekly Capital, said Wednesday he will finance this year’s election campaigns of parties he likes.

Nearly 50% Of Romanian Women Expect Sex On Valentine’s Day – Poll

15:48, 13 Feb. 2008
Nearly every other Romanian woman expects sexual intercourse on Valentine’s Day, but only 36% of the women said they would use modern contraceptives, according to a survey released Wednesday by the Society for Contraceptive and Sexual Education (SECS).

Tenants Buying ANL Homes Obliged To Keep Them Five Years

15:33, 13 Feb. 2008
The homes rented to youngsters via the National Housing Agency ANL may be sold only to tenants whose average income per family member is lower than double the gross average salary and who undertake to keep the home for five years.

Govt Says EC Won’t Launch Infringement Procedure Vs Romania For Excessive Budget

15:03, 13 Feb. 2008
The European Commission will not initiate an infringement procedure against Romania due to excessive budget deficit, as there is no danger for the deficit to exceed 3% of the gross domestic product, government representatives said.

Romanian PM Says Def Min Reshuffle Will Not Affect NATO Summit

15:00, 13 Feb. 2008
The replacement of the minister of defense will not affect preparations for the NATO summit to be hosted by Romania’s capital Bucharest in April, Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu said Wednesday.

At Least 120 Romanians Arrested In Spain On Credit Card Fraud Charges

14:36, 13 Feb. 2008
At least 120 Romanian nationals were arrested Wednesday in Spain in a Europol-led international operation against credit card forgery.

Romanian Senate OKs Automobile Craiova Sale

14:06, 13 Feb. 2008
The Romanian Senate in plenary session Wednesday approved 56 to three votes and four abstentions the draft law regarding the sale of Romania’s auto assembly plant Automobile Craiova to U.S. giant Ford.

Romanian Senate Bans Gay Marriage

13:53, 13 Feb. 2008
Romanian senators decided Wednesday to ban same-sex marriages, defining family as based on the consented union between a man and a woman in an amendment to the Family Code.

Piracy In Romania Led To $95M Losses – Report

13:21, 13 Feb. 2008
Piracy continued to be a serious problem for Romania in 2007 with losses that rose to $95 million, up 26% against 2006, with the problems of Internet piracy growing to become the most serious threat to the industry, according to a report issued by the International Intellectual Property Alliance.

Romania’s Ruling Liberals, Opposition Social Democrats Roughly Agree On Uninominal Vote System

11:12, 13 Feb. 2008
Romania’s ruling liberals and opposition social democrats roughly reached an agreement on the promotion of the uninominal voting system with one round of elections and proportional representation in parliament, but the Hungarian minority party insists to keep additional lists.

Romanian Film Director Takes Home Golden Bear Award

11:05, 13 Feb. 2008
Romanian director Bogdan Mustata won the “Golden Bear” Berlinale Shorts sections award for "A good day for a swim,” jury member Ada Solomon told Mediafax.

No Data To Prove Prosecutors Collaborated With Securitate – Kovesi

19:53, 12 Feb. 2008
Romania’s general prosecutor Laura Codruta Kovesi Tuesday said she holds no information regarding prosecutors who may have collaborated with the former communist police, stating that since she took over the position she received no intimations in this respect.

Romanian Pres Willing To Work With PM On Justice Minister Issue

17:48, 12 Feb. 2008
Romanian president Traian Basescu is ready to work with the Prime Minister to find a solution for the Ministry of Justice, within the provisions of the Constitution and with respect for the Constitutional Court decision, said the president’s spokesman, Valeriu Turcan.