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RADOR: News from Romania, 97-02-19
February 19, 1997
CONTENTS
[01] The overwhelming majority of Romanians accepted the social cost of the
reform
[02] The package of economic and social measures came into force
[03] The trade unions will not prevent the radical reform of the Romanian
economy
[04] The International Monetary Fund will analyse the Romanian Government's
programme
[05] Opposition believes that Government's economic programme is different
from the one presented earlier in Parliament
[06] Full liberalization of the exchange rate
[07] Seminar of the Crans-Montana Forum in Bucharest
[08] Weather in Romania
[09] Currency Rates
[01] The overwhelming majority of the Romanians accepted the social cost of
the reform
In an interview to France Presse, Romanian president, Emil Constantinescu,
said that after the December 1989 Revolution Romania wasted seven years
which should have been used to put in place the reform. Now the social cost
of the reform will be staggering. Mr. Constantinescu also said that the
overwhelming majority of the population accepted the social cost. "Romania
is now living an unique experience in Europe. The ruling coallition
includes christian-democrats, socoal-democrats, liberals and ecologists.
Another unique experience is that the Hungarian minority participates in
the Government", added the Romanian president. RRI-RADOR, February 19
[02] The package of economic and social measures came into force
The package of economic and social measures on economic reform and social
protection came into force in Romania on Tuesday. The measures were
announced by the Romanian prime-minister, Victor Ciorbea, at a special news
conference, on Monday evening. RRI-RADOR, February 19
[03] The trade unions will not prevent the radical reform of the Romanian
economy
"The trade unions will not prevent the radical reform of the Romanian
economy" said on Tuesday in Bucharest the leader of the Fratia trade union
confederation, Pavel Todoran. The statement was made at the end of
themeeting mr. Paul Thomsen, the International Monetary Fund representative
to Bucharest, had with the main trade union confederations of Romania. RRI-
RADOR, February 19
[04] The International Monetary Fund will analyse the Romanian Government's
programme
Romania could benefit this year by some 400 million dollars, the
International Monetary Fund representative, Paul Thomsen, said in
Bucharest. According to his declaration, the programme developed by the
Ciorbea Government mirrors Romania's economic priorities, eliminates the
concealed subsidies and could draw important foreign investments. Mr.
Thomson has specified that the International Monetary Fund Executive
Council is to analyse the Romanian Government's programme this April. RRI-
RADOR, February 19
[05] Opposition believes that Government's economic programme is different
from the one announced earlier in Parliament
The Party of Social Democracy, the main party in the opposition, believes
that the economic programme presented on Monday by the prime-minister
Victor Ciorbea was in many ways different from the ruling programme
announced in Parliamnet last December. The statement was made at a press
conference by the vice-president of the Party of Social Democracy, Teodor
Melescanu. Mr Melescanu said the false opinion was emerging that a shock
therapy would be the only solution to overcome the crisis. RRI-RADOR,
February 19
[06] Full liberalization of the exchange rate
The National Bank of Romania has decided full liberalization of the
exchange rate starting from yesterday, February 18. So, the leu-dollar
exchange rate will be based on the freely expressed supply and demand
relationship on the inter-bank market. The National Bank's exchange rate
for yesterday was 7,204 lei for 1 US dollar. RRI-RADOR, February 19
[07] Seminar of the Crans-Montana Forum in Bucharest
Upon the initiative of the Romanian president, Emil Constantinescu, a
seminar of the Crans-Montana Forum will be held in Bucharest, on March 20th-
23rd, under the patronage of the Council of Europe. At the centre of the
seminar will be the prevention and tracking of illegal economic activities
and corruption, aspects of the economic reform in Romania, international
cooperation on regional basis, fighting urban pollution and wealfare. The
seminar will have the support of the United Nations and the European
Commission. RRI-RADOR, February 19
[08] Weather in Romania
Weather will be cool and cloudy in most regions of the country. Some light
snowfalls are expected in northern parts of the country. Temperatures will
range from -12 to +5 degrees Celsius. In Bucharest, where this morning
there were -3 degrees, weather will be cool with possible light snowfalls
during night. RADOR, February 19
[09] Currency Rates
1 USD = 7,286 lei; 1 DEM = 4,292 lei; 1 CHF = 4,931 lei; 1 FRF = 1,273 lei;
1 GBP = 11,808 lei; 1 ECU = 8,348 lei. RADOR, February 19
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