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Romanian Health Minister Talks ’08 Outlook

Romanian health minister Eugen Nicolaescu announced that 2008 will be the first year of quality reform, after two years of quantity changes, when 28 hospitals will be built, the number of medicine will be doubled on the 90% compensation list and performance salaries will be implemented.

President Basescu Wished Romanians Everywhere A Happy New Year

Romanian president Traian Basescu counted down the seconds into the new year together with people gathered in the square near the parliament and wished Romanians everywhere a happy new year.

Over 21,000 Romanian Police Officers, Gendarmes On The Watch On New Year’s Eve

Over 21,000 police officers and gendarmes will be deployed tomorrow both in Romania’s capital city Bucharest and in all counties countrywide to ensure public order and safety on New Year’s Eve, mainly in locations where open parties are organized.

Hungarian Minority in Romania Wants Autonomy, Not Independence- Official

Romanian MEP Laszlo Tokes pleads for the autonomy of the regions in Romania’s central area of Transylvania mainly inhabited by the Hungarian minority, stressing he does not plead for independence even if the situation in Kosovo might create a precedent in this respect, Italian daily La Voce reports on its website.

Tarom Aircraft Involved In Serious Incident On Bucharest’s Otopeni Intl Airport

Valentin Iordache, spokesperson of Bucharest’s "Henri Coandă" Otopeni international airport, said Sunday in a press conference that a Boeing 737 hit a vehicle in charge with the airport’s beacon system while operating its takeoff maneuver.

Romania’s Economy Ministry Ups Minimum Excise For Cigarettes By 4.5%

The minimum excise for cigarettes will reach EUR39.5 /1,000 cigarettes during January 1 – June 30, 2008, up 4.55% compared with the second half of 2007, according to an order issued by Romania’s Ministry of Economy and Finance.

Romania’s 2008 State Budget Law Sparks Clash Between Liberals, President

Deputy Alba Nicolae Popa, executive secretary of Romania’s National Liberal Party, or PNL, on Saturday said that liberal MPs plan to call for an extraordinary session in Parliament unless President Traian Basescu promulgates the 2008 state budget law and to require that the law be reexamined.

Traffic Jam On Romania’s National Road DN 1

Road traffic on national road DN 1, namely on Bucharest-Brasov route, was jammed Saturday at noon as thousands of cars lined up on a distance of more than 10 kilometers between Comarnic and Busteni locations in Romania’s central-southern county of Prahova.

Free European Health Cards For Romanians Come Jan 1 ’08

Romanian citizens will receive, free of charge, the European health card, starting with January 1, 2008, its value being paid from the budget of the National Health Insurance House (CNAS), according EU advice, CNAS president Vasile Ciurchea told MEDIAFAX.

Romania’s President OKed ’08 Social Insurances Budget, Not State Budget

Romania’s president Traian Basescu promulgated on Friday the 2008 state social insurance budget Law but not the state budget Law.

Italian Govt Enacts New Expulsion Decree

The Italian government approved in its Friday meeting the new decree that allows the expulsion of European citizens both out of safety reasons as well as for preventing acts of terrorism, La Repubblica newspaper informs.

Union Leaders Met With President Basescu On State Budget Law Issue

Leaders of Romania’s four large union confederations met with President Traian Basescu on Friday, and asked him not to promulgate the 2008 state budget law the parliament approved last week

Romania To Hike Pwr, Diesel Oil, Gas Prices In ’08 On Higher Excise

Prices of electric power, diesel oil, fuel oil and natural gas used as heating fuel will hike in 2008 due to higher excises.

Romanian Govt To Issue Ordinances During Parliament Vacation

Romanian president Traian Basescu promulgated, Thursday, the Law enabling the Government to issue ordinances during the Parliament vacation, the presidential administration announced.

Transport Ministry Secretary Gen Suspended For Two Yrs On Request

Secretary general of the Transportation Ministry, democrat Radian Tufa, was suspended, on his request, from the position in the ministry for two years, by decision of Prime Minister Calin Tariceanu.

Two Injured In Car Crash, N Romania

Two people were injured Thursday morning in a car crash on national road DN13 near Nades, in Romania’s central-northern county of Mures, after a driver lost control of the vehicle in a dangerous curve and crashed into a truck.

Ex Romanian Monarch Talks About Romania As A European Country

Former Romanian monarch King Mihai I, said that Romania has finally entered “in the worthy family of free nations” with its accession to the European Union and added that democracy and freedom have found their place in the Romanian society.

One Dead, One Hurt In Car Accident In C Romania

One man died and another is struggling for his life after they were hit on Wednesday by another car while trying to repair their own vehicle.

Romania Makes It To European Challenge Cup 8th Final Will All 3 Teams

Romania made it to the women volleyball European Challenge Cup 8th final with all the three teams registered in the competition, following the results in the second leg of the 3rd round.

Steaua Declare Their Interest In Sochaux’s Jokici

Romania’s FC Steaua Bucuresti voiced interest in transferring Slovenian defender Bojan Jokici, currently playing for French club FC Sochaux-Montbéliard, mercato365.com reported.

Thick Fog Renders Romanian Traffic Bulky

Traffic on Romanian highway Autostrada Soarelui and on several roads in counties Bacau, Neamt, Botosani, Iasi, Cluj, Bihor, Dolj, Arges, Buzau and Ialomita is bulky because of the fog, while on several segments visibility is below 50 meters, according to the Romanian Police.

Romanian Econ Fin Min States Forecasts For ‘08

Romanian economy and finance minister Varujan Vosganian presented several forecasts on the economic indicators for 2008, indicating that in the year to come, salaries, pensions, as well as prices for energy will register some “moderate” hikes.

Romanian Ex Pres Says Revolution Shooters Were Pros

Former Romanian president Ion Iliescu says that there are very slim chances for the truth to be revealed regarding the people who opened fire in December 1989, in the Romanian revolution, since the people who did it were part of an elite unit directly under Nicolae Ceausescu.

Romanian Authorities To Ban Heavy Traffic On National Road 1 In ‘08

Romanian authorities will maintain for 2008 traffic restrictions for freight transportation vehicles weighing over 7.5 tons on two sections of National Road 1, between Bucharest and Brasov, during daytime, from Monday until Friday, Romania’s National Road and Highway Company said Friday.

Romanian President To Condemn Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact

Romanian president Traian Basescu announced Friday on the public radio station that he will condemn Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact to the Parliament, as he did with the communist regime.

Some Romanian Banks Open On Dec. 31

Banks in Romania will be closed on December 25-26 and January 1-2, while some banks will be open on December 31, declared non-banking day by the central bank.

Iran, Romanian Church Slam Translation Of Rushdie’s “Satanic Verses”

The Iranian Embassy in Bucharest and the Romanian Patriarchy disapproved the recent launch in Romanian of “The Satanic Verses” by Salman Rushdie.

EC Clears Acquisition Of Romanian Pwr Supplier By Italy’s Enel

The European Commission approved the acquisition of Romania’s electric power supplier Electrica Muntenia Sud by Italy’s Enel, concluding that it would not impede competition, EU said Friday in a press release.

Romania To Keep Current Gas, Pwr Prices Jan 1

Prices for electric power and natural gas will be maintained at the current level January 1, Romania’s energy watchdog ANRE said Friday.

Transport Min Says Will Resign If Probe Shows Victim Involved In Road Accident

Romanian transport minister Ludovic Orban said Thursday evening on Antena 3 he will resign all his public positions if investigators prove his road accident on Sunday involved a victim.

Romania’s Disputed Car Tax Could Be Amended Late January – Fin Min

The draft ordinance amending laws on Romania’s car tax regime has been largely completed and they new provisions could be adopted end January, finance minister Varujan Vosganian said Thursday.

Econ Min: Romanian ’07 Budget Def 1.4% Of GDP

Romania’s general consolidated budget will report a deficit of 1.4% of gross domestic product at the end of the year, Economy and Finance Minister Varujan Vosganian said Thursday.

Romanian Director Envisions „Dracula Dreamin'”

Romanian director Tudor Giurgiu intends to organize, late August, a horror and fantasy film festival - "Dracula Dreamin'" – in central Romanian city Brasov.

Romanian Parliament Okays 2008 State, Social Insurance Budgets

The Romanian Parliament has approved Thursday the state and social insurance budgets, with the majority of the funds going to education, health, agriculture and infrastructure, Prime Minister Calin Popescu Tariceanu said Thursday.

Romanian Minister Reported Road Accident After Call From Police Commissioner

Romanian transport minister Ludovic Orban reported his accident only after he was called by the police chief commissioner, who asked whether media reports about him being involved in a road accident were true, the interior Ministry spokesman told MEDIAFAX Thursday.

Romanian PM Declines To Comment On Transp Min Situation

Romanian Premier Calin Popescu Tariceanu on Wednesday declined to comment on a car accident involving Transportation Minister Ludovic Orban, saying police should handle the case, government spokeswoman Camelia Spataru said.

Romania Extends List Of People To Receive Damages For Former Deposits At CEC

The Romanian authorities on Wednesday expanded the list of eligible persons to receive damages for their deposits at the savings bank Casa de Economii si Consemnatiuni, or CEC, in view of purchasing cars, regardless of the make.

Romania Refuses To Accept Moldova’s Sovereignty – Moldovan President

The president of the Republic of Moldova, Vladimir Voronin, accused western neighbor Romania of failing to acknowledge the country’s sovereignty and of refusing to conclude a Bilateral Treaty and Border Agreement, BBC Romania reported.

Romanian RCA Insurers Tariffs 30% Below Mkt Value-Exec

Romanian insurers licensed to sell civil liability car insurance policies, or RCA, offer prices some 30% lower compared to the level imposed through the overall mandatory reserves set up for their contracts, Allianz-Tiriac Asigurari general manager Cristian Constantinescu said Tuesday.

Drug Dealers Allegedly Funding PKK, Busted In Romania

Three members of an international group of drug dealers, who supposedly financed the PKK, were arrested for 29 days for helping with the transport of 58 kilograms of heroin.