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RADOR: News from Romania, 00-01-21
21 January, 2000
CONTENTS
[01] Government Meeting
[02] Statements Made by the PD Leader Petre Roman Following His Meeting
With Prime Minister Mugur Isarescu
[03] Statements Made by ApR Leader Teodor Melescanu Following His Meeting
With Prime Minister Mugur Isarescu
[04] Changes Are Needed in the Interior Ministry
[05] PSDR Wants to Revive the Civil Society
[06] Statements Made by Giovanni Ravasio
[07] Negotiations with the IMF
[08] Bodo Hombach Invites Romania and Bulgaria to Resume Talks on Economic
Issues
[09] Prognosis of the European Commission Regarding Candidate Countries
[10] Reactions in Chishinau Following Romania's Decision to Continue
Supplying Electricity to the Republic of Moldova
[11] Experts from PETROM in Chishinau
[12] The Government Decided to Increase Pensions
[01] Government Meeting
Prime minister Mugur Isarescu informed the Cabinet ministers on the
country's development strategy and the structure of the working groups. The
ministres suggested some other specialists should also be included in these
groups, and stressed the need for the development strategy to be in
agreement with the provisions of the state budget and with the negotiations
with the international financial institutions.
The Government ratified the 44.5 million dollars loan agreement concluded
with BIRD in view of financing the mine closure and to reduce the social
impact of these closures. The Cabinet also ratified the 63 million euro
contract signed with BIRD in view of financing the modernization of
transports in Bucharest. An urgent ordinance was also adopted to amend the
Government Ordinance 39/1999 regarding the restructuring of BANCOREX and
the merger of this bank with BCR. According to RADIO ROMANIA ACTUALITATI,
the Government decided to appoint Marcel Virgil Turcas as prefect of the
county of Salaj. RADOR
[02] Statements Made by the PD Leader Petre Roman Following His Meeting
With Prime Minister Mugur Isarescu
Petre Roman said, following his talks with prime minister Mugur Isarescu,
that in his party's opinion the mid-term economic development strategy
should be based upon the realities in Romania, and upon the objectives to
be reached. The team in charge with drawing up this strategy will be co-
ordinated by the Romanian Academy, and it should include specialists from
all fields of activity. RADIO ROMANIA ACTUALITATI reports that Roman also
said the Democratic Party wanted the local elections to be held until the
end of May, so that all local structures should be functional by the
beginning of the campaign for the general elections. The PD leader added
all stages of the governing program should be completed by the general
elections. RADOR
[03] Statements Made by ApR Leader Teodor Melescanu Following His Meeting
With Prime Minister Mugur Isarescu
Prime minister Mugur Isarescu met on Thursday evening the ApR leaders.
According to the party leader Teodor Melescanu, quoted by RADIO ROMANIA
ACTUALITATI, the Alliance for Romania raised three sets of problems. The
first dealt with the negative effects of the tax reform, ApR pleading for a
reduction of the added value tax for essential food products under 11%. The
second topic regarded the economic development strategy. The ApR leaders
stressed the need to word its final version by mid-February, so that some
social categories might forward suggestions and amendments. The last issue
tackled was that of local and general elections. Teodor Melescanu
reiterated his party position, that the local elections should be held in
May or June at the latest, and the general elections in October or
November. RADOR
[04] Changes Are Needed in the Interior Ministry
Descentralization and a delegation of competences are needed in order to
increase the efficiency of the Interior Ministry, Constantin Dudu Ionescu
said, quoted by RADIO ROMANIA ACTUALITATI. The interior minister also said
that general Nicolae Berechet, chief Police inspector, would present next
week a restructuring project, according to which only 1.000 of the 7.000
policemen would do office work. RADOR
[05] PSDR Wants to Revive the Civil Society
The Social-Democratic Party will forward to the Parliament several draft
laws in view of reviving the civil society, PSDR president Alexandru
Athanasiu said during a press conference on Thursday. According to RADIO
ROMANIA ACTUALITATI, these draft laws regard the election by uninominal
vote of local counsellors, and the creation of Trade Chambers in all
counties. Asked about the situation of micro-credits, Athanasiu said there
was no conflict between labour and social protection minister Smaranda
Dobrescu and the deputy minister Simona Marinescu, but a conflict between
the latter and the laws. The PSDR leader added the public money had been
transferred to Salto Bank without the signature of the chief accountant,
and the Audit Court was expected to solve the case. RADOR
[06] Statements Made by Giovanni Ravasio
Giovanni Ravasio, director general in the Economic and Financial
Directorate of the European Commission, said he was visiting Romania in
order to discuss with the authorities the mid-term economic strategy, as
key element in the process of joining the European Union. The EU wants the
successful implementation of this strategy to bring about economic growth
and the improvement of the living standards of the Romanian people.
Giovanni Ravasio highly appreciated the prime minister's decision to speed
up the drawing uop of the country's development strategy, and expressed his
confidence the mentioned strategy would be unanimously supported by the
political parties and social partners in Romania. RADOR
[07] Negotiations with the IMF
The Government spokesman, Ionut Popescu, quoted by RADIO ROMANIA
ACTUALITATI, said the Romanian negotiators discussing with the IMF
representatives considered a letter of intention might be signed next week.
The negotiations might be also concluded next week, and the loan agreement
extended, followed by the release of the second package. The economic
parameters discussed with the IMF team were a budget deficit of 3%, an
inflation rate of 25-30% and an economic growth of 1.3%.
[08] Bodo Hombach Invites Romania and Bulgaria to Resume Talks on Economic
Issues
Bodo Hombach, coordinator of the Stability Pact for South-East Europe,
invited the Governments of Romania and Bulgaria to resume in Brussels the
talks on economic issues, especially regarding the second bridge over the
Danube, RADIO ROMANIA ACTUALITATI informs. RADOR
[09] Prognosis of the European Commission Regarding Candidate Countries
The European Commission issued on Thursday a prognosis regarding the
candidate countries. The experts of the Commission consider Romania is
still subject to a severe recession, but estimate that, if the reform is
speeded up and strict macro-economic policies are implemented, the country
will record in 2001 a healthy and durable economic growth. The same
document, quoted by RADIO ROMANIA ACTUALITATI, considers Romania's economic
situation is still quite fragile. RADOR
[10] Reactions in Chishinau Following Romania's Decision to Continue
Supplying Electricity to the Republic of Moldova
The authorities in Chishinau welcomed with gratitude Romania's decision to
continue supplying electricity to the Republic of Moldova, told RADIO
ROMANIA ACTUALITATI Romanian ambassador in Moldavia, Victor Barsan. The
diplomat said the Moldovan Government has the political will to hand over
to Romania more than 50% of the shares of TIREX-Petrol to cover part of the
24 million dollars debt for electricity. Barsan added that, considering the
future European integration of the two countries, Moldova should cover the
remaining debts to Romania by handing over shares in other profitable
companies. RADOR
[11] Experts from PETROM in Chishinau
Experts from PETROM went to Chishinau to study the procedure of handing
over shares in TIREX-Petrol in exchange for the electricity supplied by the
Romanian company CONEL. According to RADIO ROMANIA ACTUALITATI, the experts
will also discuss with economy and reform minister Eugen Slopac, with
representatives of the Privatization Department, and with the managers of
TIREX-Petrol. RADOR
[12] The Government Decided to Increase Pensions
The Government decided to increase by 1.7% several categories of pensions,
starting with January 1, 2000. RADIO ROMANIA ACTUALITATI mentions that the
categories of pensions to be increased are those for farmers, for military,
for war widows and invalids. RADOR
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