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RADOR: News from Romania, 00-05-04
May 4, 2000
CONTENTS
[01] Report of the UN Economic Commission for Europe;
[02] Smaller Wages for Managers of State-Owned Companies;
[03] FPS Priorities in the PSAL 2 Restructuring Programme;
[04] Budget Law Promulgated;
[05] Romanian - Egyptian Economic Co-operation;
[06] Strike at the Nuclear Plant in Cernavoda;
[01] Report of the UN Economic Commission for Europe
According to a report issued by the UN Economic Commission for Europe,
transition economies in Eastern and South-Eastern Europe and in the
countries of the former Soviet Union are expected to reach an avarage raise
of 3% in the year 2000, but the growth will vary from country to country.
The growth will be more obvious in East-European countries, 4%, and the
Baltic states, 3%, but also in the Balkan countries directly or indirectly
affected by the war in former Yugoslavia. The report poits aout the
discrepancies between the promises made by international donors and the
distribution of aid. The document also criticises the lack of coordination
between the 29 countries and the bodies involved in the Balkan Stability
Pact. The political and economic changes in Central and East-European
countries have serious demographic consequences resulting in an obviously
deteriorating birth rate. In 1997, the birth rate was one third lower than
in 1988, especially in the countries of the former Soviet Union and
Romania. The report believes that the transition from a centralised economy
to market economy led to a lower birth rate along with a declining
production, growing unemployment and declining wages, all of these
coinciding with a new lifestyle, very different from the family lifestyle.
RADOR
[02] Smaller wages for managers of state-owned companies
Romanian Prime Minister Mugur Isarescu is expected to take a series of
measures aimed at reducing the wages of the managers of state-owned
companies. According to government sources, the wages of the managers
should not exceed those of the undersecretary of state. The salary of
manager may hit around 4.5 million lei. RADOR
[03] FPS priorities in the PSAL 2 restructuring programme
While in the Moldavian city of Piatra Neamt on Wednesday, Radu Sarbu, the
president of the State Ownership Fund (FPS), said that the priorities of
his institution depended on the progress of the privatisation, smaller
losses along with the progress of the restructuring and the privatisation
of the banking system. In this respect, Radu Sarbu mentioned the cases of
the Agricultural Bank which, according to the PSAL programme, should be
privatised by June 30, and the Romanian Commercial Bank (BCR) to be
privatised by September. RADOR
[04] Buget Law promulgated
Romanian President Emil Constantinescu is expected to promulgate today the
law on the Budget of this year. The announcement was made in a communique
issued by the Presidency. RADOR
[05] Romanian - Egyptian economic co-operation
In an interview yesterday, Romania's ambassador to Cairo Doru Costea
mentioned a series of projects aimed at developing the long-term and short-
term Romanian - Egyptian co-operation and accelerating the mutual exchange
of economic information. In this respect, 15 Romanian companies are
participating in an exhibition of electronic and electrotechnical goods to
open in Cairo on May 6. On May 7, the president of Romania's House of
Commerce and Industry will attend a seminar on Romanian businesses. The
Romanian ambassador pointed out that the Romanian - Egyptian dialogue was
getting closer as Romania, as part of the three-party decision-making body
of the OSCE, was coordinating the dialogue between the European institution
and the Mediterranean states while Egypt was the first country to enjoy the
status of observer and Romania expected to become the OSCE president next
year. RADOR
[06] Strike at the nuclear plant in Cernavoda
The workers of the nuclear plant in Cernavoda went on general strike on
Wednesday at 7:30 AM. Trade union leader Ion Monceanu said that, among
other things, the workers were demanding a 25% raise in the salaries, meal
tickets and an additional 20-day holiday. According to the RRA, a third of
the employees were ensuring the energy supplies while supervising
operations around the nuclear reactor. Representatives of the Nuclear -
Energetic National Society and Eugen Constantin Izbasoiu, secretary of
state with Romania's Industry and Trade Ministry went to Cernavoda but the
three-hour talks with the trade unionists broke down. RADOR
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