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RADOR: News from Romania, 97-08-05
August 5, 1997
CONTENTS
[01] Efforts for Completing the Budget
[02] Romanian Interior Minister Calls to Reason
[03] Former Romanian Sovereign King Michael Is in Romania
[04] Plans for Development of Small and Medium-Size Companies
[05] Trade with Hungary Is Favoured by New Romanian Customs Regulations
[06] Road Tax Comes into Force
[07] Aid for People Affected by Floods
[08] EBRD Loan
[09] Weather in Romania
[10] Currecy Rates
[01] Efforts for completing the budget
The Romanian finance minister Mircea Ciumara admitted, for the first time,
that IMF was right to criticise Romania for not implementing the reform in
the last months. In a BBC (August 4, 18:00 hours) interview, he said that
the adjustment of the budget had to cover over 11 thousand billion lei. He
said that was partly caused by the loss-making industries that continued to
ask for money, as privatization and restructuring are still promises.
Referring to a possible income tax cut, Ciumara told RADIO ROMANIA
ACTUALITATI (August 4, 22:20 hours) that he wanted to keep his word, and a
solution would be found within the next 2-3 days through consultations with
trade unions. But he said a profit tax cut was not possible for the time
being, as funds were not available partly due to the recent floods that
affected countryside areas. RADOR, August 5
[02] Romanian interior minister calls to reason
The removal of the flag from the building housing the Hungarian Consulate
in Cluj-Napoca, along with the declarations made by PUNR leaders led to an
unnecessary tense climate, interior minister Gavril Dejeu said in Cluj. He
described the opening of that consulate right in the center of Cluj as a
mistake, RADIO ROMANIA ACTUALITATI (August 4, 19:17 hours) reported. Also,
he criticised the police for not guarding the Hungarian Consulate from the
very day of its opening in Cluj-Napoca. Dejeu also said in Transylvania
bilingual inscriptions should not be enforced immediately as they could
become new tension sources. He warned that if both the Romanian majority
and the Hungarian minority would not prove sensitive and reasonable,
conflicts similar to those in former Yugoslavia could burst. RADOR, August
5
[03] Former Romanian sovereign, King Michael I Is in Romania
King Michael and his wife, Ana of Bourbon-Parma arrived on Monday at the
international airport of Timisoara, in a private visit, RADIO ROMANIA
ACTUALITATI (August 4, 16:00 hours) reported. The Royal Family would visit,
starting Tuesday morning, several towns, like Arad, Oradea, Satu-Mare Baia-
Mare, and on August 15 are due to attend the celebration of Saint Mary, at
the Putna Monastery. RADOR, August 5
[04] Plans for development of small and medium-size companies
The National Agency for Privatization (ANP) said a bank should be created
for granting bonus interest rates to small- and medium-size enterprises,
along with the development of the leasing system, and securities funds. In
a statement carried by RADIO FREE EUROPE (August 4, 18:00 hours), the ANP
chairman said he favoured the German tax system. RADOR, August 5
[05] Trade with Hungary is favoured by new Romanian customs regulations
The Romanian Customs Law has recently been modified, creating new
oportunities for Romanian-Hungarian trade activities. According to new
regulations, some major products from CEFTA countries would enjoy
substantial cuts in customs tax. The Romanian Industry and Commerce
Ministry has drawn a list with goods, some imported from Hungary, for which
customs taxes are even smaller than those for CEFTA members, DUNA TV
BUDAPEST (August 4, 19:05) said. They include wines, honey, unprocessed
tobacco, sugar, refreshing drinks, and some fruits. In order to ease trade
exchanges between Romania and Hungary, customs points at Nadlac and Varsand
are to be opened in September. Starting this month, animal products and
live animals are to be checked by local veterinarian inspectorates, instead
of border crossings. RADOR, August 5
[06] Road tax comes into force
An urgency ordinance obliging the owners of cars, trucks, vans, and other
vehicles to pay the tax for using roads by November 30, came into force on
Monday, August 4. The money are to be spent for repair works and ensuring
traffic security on national as well as on county roads, RADIO ROMANIA
ACTUALITATI (August 4, 13:00 hours) reported. RADOR, August 5
[07] Aid for people affected by floods
An aid package of 2 billion lei aimed to help people affected by floods in
Caras-Severin county was decided by the government on Monday. The help is
to include cloths, food, medicine, and in some places construction
materials. The government spokesman said aid-packages for other zones would
be discussed during the Tuesday meeting of the government. RADOR, August
5
[08] EBRD loan
An accord meant to develop town facilities was signed on Monday in
Bucharest, between Romania and EBRD, RADIO ROMANIA ACTUALITATI (August 4,
19:23) reported. The total value of the project is assessed at 190 million
dollars, and EBRD is to supply Romania a 75 million dollar loan for 15
years, with a tax-holiday period of 3 years. The money, to be managed by
the Romanian Commercial Bank is to be spent by city councils for upgrading
the water supply and sewerage nets in ten towns: Arad, Bacau, Bistrita,
Botosani, Cluj, Constanta, Focsani, Oradea, and Targoviste. BBC - ROMANIAN
SERVICE (August 4, 18:00 hours) noted that EBRD already granted a first
installment of 28 million dollars for the upgrading of water supply nets in
five towns. The source said the other partner in that project is EU which
supplied a 40 million dollars non-reimbursable loan through the PHARE
program. RADOR, August 5
[09] Weather in Romania
Weather in Romania is getting colder and is still cloudy in most of the
regions. Temperatures will range from 11 centigrades in the morning to 32
centigrades at noon. RADOR, August 5
[10] Currency rates
1 USD = 7,407 lei; 1 DEM = 3,973 lei; 1 CHF = 4,838 lei; 1 FRF = 1,178 lei;
1 GBP = 12,064 lei; 1 XEU = 7,848 lei. RADOR, August 5
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