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RADOR: News from Romania, 97-12-05
December 5, 1997
CONTENTS
[01] Romanian-Moldovan Relations
[02] New Romanian Government Validated
[03] Italian Support for Romania's EU Integration
[04] Good News for Romania
[05] International NATO Conference in Rome
[06] High Studies Institute in Vienna: "bad marks" on Romanian Economy
[07] Inflation Rate Dropped in November
[08] Romanian-Japanese Meeting on Economic Issues
[09] Romania at the World Cup '98 in France
[10] Weather in Romania
[11] Currency Rates
[01] Romanian-Moldovan relations
Romanian President Emil Constantinescu has stated that 1997 is the year of
reference for the development of Romanian-Moldovan relations. He made the
statement after meeting his Moldvan counterpart Petru Luchinsky in Iassy on
Thursday. In his turn, the guest assured that there are no differences
between Romania and the Rpublic of Moldova, and both countries are backing
each other in regional and international forums. On Thursday morning, the
two presidents inaugurated the sound and image optic febre-transmission
system between the two states. The meeting was the fifth this year between
the two presidents. RRI-RADOR, December 5
[02] New Romanian Government validated
On Thursday, the Romanian Parliament validated with a large majority the
new Cabinet proposed by Prime Minister Victor Ciorbea. The reshuffled
ministries are those of industry and trade, finance, reform, environment,
education, privatisation (newly established), health and the ministry of
sports and youth. Among the new ministers who were validated by special
commissions in the Romanian Parliament there are persons who do not belong
to any political party. Prime Minister Ciorbea said that the man goal of
the new team is to step up the reform. Priorities include economic
stability, speeding up structural reforms, privatisation of big and medium-
sized companies and banks, fight against tax evasion, fiscality reforms,
restructuring of autonomous administrations. At the same time, the
government intends to establish a programme aimed at supporting the SMEs,
modernising the infrastructure and reforming the public administration.
RRI- RADOR, December 5
[03] Italian support for Romania's EU integration
"We shall support Romania's EU candidacy in Luxembourg the same as we
supported its accession to NATO", said Nicola Mancino, the Speaker of the
Italian Parliament. While on a visit to Bucharest on Thursday, Mr. Mancino
met Prime Minister Victor Ciorbea and other Romanian officials. In his turn,
the Romanian prime minister said that Italy ranked 5-th among foreign
investors in Romania with over 200 million dollars. Mr. Ciorbea announced
that, at the end of January 1998 he would pay an official visit to Italy on
the invitation of his Italian counterpart Romano Prodi. Before meeting the
Romanian Prime Minister, Mr. Mancino met Mr. Petre Roman, the Speaker of
Romanian Senate. A cooperation agreement was signed between the two sides.
RRI-RADOR, December 5
[04] Good news for Romania
On Thursday in Brussels, the European Parliament has voted a resolution on
the opening of the EU accession negotiations early next year. The European
MPs proposed the start of simultaneous negotiations with all the EU
Applicant States though only six of them are to take part in "intensive"
talks. The intensive talks will be initiated with Poland, Hungary, the
Czech Republic, Slovenia, Estonia and Cyprus while the remaining candidates
are to participate in negotiations at a diffrent pace. RRI-RADOR, December
5
[05] International NATO conference in Rome
The NATO College in Rome is hosting a conference on "Consequences of the
Madrid Summit on Security and Stability in Europe". Ending on Saturday, the
six edition of the conference is part of a research project on Euro-
Atlantic security held by the NATO College in Rome. Romania has been
selected to prepare and carry out the event through its Manfred Woerner
Association, well-known for its activity in promoting the country's
integration into the Euro-Atlantic structures. RRI-RADOR, December 5
[06] High Studies Institute in Vienna: "bad marks" on Romanian economy
The prestigious High Studies Institute in Vienna has issued "bad marks" on
the Romanian economy. A today report says that the 1997 GDP is to be 3%
lower than last year. The industrial production in nine months is 3.5%
lower than last year while investments in the first half of this year are a
third lower than in the same period of last year. As the purchasing power
of the people registered a 28% drop, the retail sales were 31% lower in
August. The 1997 inflation rate is estimated at 150%. Only 42% of the
Government's privatisation programme has been accomplished. RADOR,
December 5
[07] Inflation rate dropped in November
In spite of the forecast indicating a raise of 6.5%, the inflation rate in
November has reached the level of only 5%. The announcement was made by BNR
spokesman Adrian Vasilescu who added that the interest rates on inter-
banking market were expected to drop as well. The BNR hard currency reserve
is 104 million USD higher, at 2.6 billion USD by now. RADOR, December 5
[08] Romanian-Japanese meeting on economic issues
The first Romanian-Japanese meeting on investment opportunities for
Japanese companies is going on in Bucharest. The Japanese are interested in
purchasing Romanian spare parts and other components for their car,
electronic and tool-machines industries. The conference is coordinated by
the the Chamber of Commerce of Romania and the City of Bucharest in
cooperation with the Romanian branch of the Japanese Foreign Trade
Organisation, and includes meetings between Japanese and Romanian
businessmen and a visiting tour of Romanian commercial companies in the
field. Participants include representatives of 50 Japanese companies and 75
Romanian companies - a fact which proves the mutual interest in improving
trade and bilateral contacts. RADOR, December 5
[09] Romania at the World Cup '98 in France
The groups of football teams participating in the World Cup '98 finals in
France has been designated during a ceremony on the Velodrome Stadium in
Marseille. Romania's national team - leader of Group G - will play along
Colombia, Britain and Tunisia. A football match between Europe and The Rest
of the World was organised before the ceremony. The final score was 5:2 for
The Rest of the World team. Romanian footballer Marius Lacatus has scored
the first goal for the Europeans. RRI-RADOR, December 5
[10] Weather in Romania
Weather in Romania will be cold and cloudy in most of the country. Heavy
snowfalls were announced in northern regions. Temperatures will range from -
4 centigrades in the morning to 7 centigrades at noon. RADOR, December 5
[11] Currency rates
1 USD = 7,928 lei; 1 DEM = 4,473 lei; 1 CHF = 5,543 lei; 1 FRF = 1,336 lei;
1 GBP = 13,321 lei; 1 XEU = 8,867 lei. RADOR, November 5
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