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RADOR: News from Romania, 99-01-11
January 11, 1998
CONTENTS
[01] PNL leader's statement on miners' strike in Jiu Valley
[02] Accusations against the PD branch in Bistrita-Nasaud county
[03] Negotiations between Industry and Trade Ministry delegates and
representatives of the miners in Jiu Valley
[04] US investment bank Merrill Lynch recommends buying Romanian bonds
[05] CONEL to resume providing electric power and gas to all mines of the
MINVEST Deva company
[01] PNL leader's statement on miners' strike in Jiu Valley
While attending a PNL conference in Buzau on Sunday, the president of the
National Liberal Party (PNL), Mircea Ionescu-Quintus, said that, at the
next meeting of the PNL Permanent Bureau, the party's vice-president,
Viorel Catarama, was to explain his presence in the Jiu Valley. Mr Quintus
said he knew nothing about Viorel Catarama's initiative. He added that Mr
Catarama was given no mandate on the party's behalf nor had he the mandate
of the Parliament or the Government. Of course, the tensions in the Jiu
Valley cannot be solved by ultimatums or threats, Mr Quintus pointed out.
In his opinion, Miron Cozma (ed.n. the miners' leader) should give up all
self-pride. He should accept dialogue and avoid breaking the law by
threatening those unwilling to participate in the strike. Anyway, the
mines' closedown is the only solution to stop the losses on the condition
the government will ensure a real social protection, the PNL president
concluded. RADOR, January 11
[02] Accusations against the PD branch in Bistrita-Nasaud county
The prefect of the northern county of Bistrita-Nasaud, engineer Dorin
Popescu, also the leader of the PNL branch in the province, has launched
serious accusations against the leadership of the PD branch in the county.
Mr Popescu told a press conference on Saturday that the president of PD
branch in the county, deputy Ioan Oltean, former minister of waters,
forests and evironment, was actually coordinating the local Mafia and he
was the undercover leader of the County Council. Prefect Dorin Popescu said
he hold evidence confirming the corruption among councillors such as the
villas owned by the local leaders of the Democratic Party (PD) or the bids
won by a company of only 8 workers hired to carry out the tens of billions
of lei-project designed to ensure the gas supply. RADOR, January 11
[03] Negotiations between Industry and Trade Ministry delegates and
representatives of the miners in Jiu Valley
The second day of the negotiations between miners' representatives in Jiu
Valley and Industry and Trade Ministry (MIC) officials focused on all the
30 demands the miners put forward, the last two excepted along with those
concerning the resignation of minister Radu Berceanu and the managing board
of the National Mineral Coal Company of Petrosani. One of the discussions'
major results was the decision concerning the set up of a joint commission,
including representatives of both mining trade unions and employers, aimed
at seeking solutions and draw up a programme designed to eliminate the
losses in the Jiu Valley industry by January 25. MIC State Secretary
Nicolae Staiculescu, who was apppointed to lead the negotiations of the
behalf of the ministry says the commission will be set up on the condition
that the miners will cease the general strike. The two sides seem satisfied
with the progress they made, though the conrete results of the agreement
they reached are still to be seen after submission to the Miniong Trade
Unions League Coordination Council who is to make the final decision on the
matter. RADOR, January 11
[04] US investment bank Merrill Lynch recommends buying Romanian bonds
Privatization of banks and the measures aimed to cut economic losses have
caused the increase of the Romanian bonds' value in the international
capital market. The American investment bank Merrill Lynch is recommending
its clients to buy Romanian bonds as their value is due to increase. The
director for Eastern Europe within Merrill Lynch London Paul Rafael told
Mediafax agency on Sunday: "We recommend buying Romanian bonds released by
the Romanian National Bank (RNB), the Finance Ministry and by the Romanian
Commercial Bank (RCB). We believe that the bonds are cheap and they are a
good investment opportunity now". The bonds released by the RNB reach
maturity in June 1999 and those by the Finance Ministry in 2002. Merrill
Lynch experts say Romania's evaluation is better in case of the bonds that
other countries with the same rating. The privatization of RomTelecom, of
the Romanian Bank for Development and closing the loss maknig companies are
several elements favoring a new agreement with the IMF. The Merrill Lynch -
London official is optimistic about this and he believes that after
concluding the agreement foreign capital flow will resume in Romania.
RADOR, January 11
[05] CONEL to resume providing electric power and gas to all mines of the
MINVEST Deva company
After 5 days of protest one of the 10 claims by the miners at the Rosia-
Poeni mine of the MINVEST Deva company have got a response. Starting on
Monday the CONEL company will resume providing electric power and gas to
all mines of the MINVEST Deva company. Electric power and gas provision
will resume after the representatives of MINVEST, CONEL Deva and those of
the "Electrica" company in Bucharest sign a convention with participation
of the branches in nine districts. According to this protocol MINVEST Deva
company is due to pay electric power provided on a six month period and the
instalments for the spread out debt. On December 16, 1998 CONEL had
suspended provision of electric power to all mines of the MINVEST Deva
company. MINVEST has a debt of over 300 bil. lei to CONEL. The miners at
the MINVEST mines had protested in the street after the supply with
electric power was suspended. After having protested for five days in front
of the Rosia-Poeni town hall the miners went to the city of Alba Iulia. In
case the Industry Ministry would not have ordered resuming provision of
electric power the miners were decided to continue protests and even come
to the capital. RADOR, January 11
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