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RADOR: News from Romania, 00-01-24
24 January, 2000
CONTENTS
[01] Last Homage to Ion Ratiu
[02] Questions PUNR Will Rise to Prime Minister Mugur Isarescu
[03] The PNR Leader Is in Favour of a Government of National Unity
[04] Statements Made by Mugur Isarescu at the Summit in Bulgaria
[05] Hungarian Prime Minister Will Pay an Official Visit to Romania
[06] Consequences for Romania of the embargo against Yugoslavia
[07] The Government Will Consider the Republic of Moldova's Debts to
Romania
[08] The Businessmen Intend to Go on Tax Strike
[09] Unexpected Holidays
[10] Heavy Snows All Over the Country
[11] The Negotiations Between the Managers and Trade Unions in the Railroad
Company Failed
[01] Last Homage to Ion Ratiu
Ion Ratiu was burried on Sunday in the cemetery in Turda. Inhabitants of
the town and of the nearby villages, politicians and local authorities
rendered him a last homage. Previously, in the church built by the Ratiu
family, a group of priests headed by the Catholic bishop of Cluj celebrated
the burrial service. Nicolae Ratiu, Ion Ratiu's son and PNTCD president Ion
Diaconescu evoked the personality of the dead politician. According to
RADIO ROMANIA ACTUALITATI, the ceremony was also attended by FPS president
Radu Sarbu, presidential counsellor Dorin Marian, Oliviu Gherman, ex-
chairman of the Senate, and the ANCD president Victor Ciorbea. RADOR
[02] Questions PUNR Will Rise to Prime Minister Mugur Isarescu
Prime minister Mugur Isarescu will continue his meetings with leaders of
the Parliamentary parties to discuss the mid-term development strategy, key
element of the negotiations in view of joining the European Union. PUNR
leader Valeriu Tabara told RADIO ROMANIA ACTUALITATI he would insist on
another system of tax reform, on an increase in pensions and on a change in
the privatization system, including the dissolving of the State Property
Fund. He also said his party pleaded for further talks with the European
Union in view of abolishing the compulsory visas for Romanian citizens, and
of modernizing some sectors in the national economy able to create new jobs
and to reduce thus the emigration phenomenon. RADOR
[03] The PNR Leader Is in Favour of a Government of National Unity
Virgil Magureanu, leader of the National Romanian Party, pleaded on Sunday
for a government of national unity, considering Romania was passing a
difficult period, and the economic recovery should be the result of
national concerted efforts. In his opinion, no party isolated from the
other political forces in the country could determine major changes in the
economic and social life. Virgil Magureanu, quoted by RADIO ROMANIA
ACTUALITATI, also criticised the governments that succeded in power in the
last ten years for not having a clear development strategy. RADOR
[04] Statements Made by Mugur Isarescu at the Summit in Bulgaria
The prime ministers of the countries neighbouring Yugoslavia, who met on
Saturday in Bulgaria, discussed mainly the issues of security and stability
in South-Eastern Europe in the aftermath of the conflict in Kosovo, and the
implementation of the Stability Pact in the Balkans. RADIO ROMANIA
ACTUALITATI reports that Romanian prime minister Mugur Isarescu called for
the creation and implementation of major projects financially assisted by
the European Union, meant to help the development of the region and to
compensate the losses following the sanctions imposed to Yugoslavia.
Isarescu stressed that a quick financial aid was essential for the
stability of the region, considering the social problems that might appear
as result of poverty. RADOR
[05] Hungarian Prime Minister Will Pay an Official Visit to Romania
The Romanian and Hungarian prime ministers will meet as scheduled at the
end of March or at the beginning of April, Hungarian prime minister Viktor
Orban announced after meeting his Romanian counterpart Mugur Isarescu. The
two discussed during the summit of the prime ministers of the countries
neighbouring Yugoslavia, held at Hissaria, in Bulgaria, RADIO BUDAPEST
informs. RADOR
[06] Consequences for Romania of the embargo against Yugoslavia
The countries neighbouring Yugoslavia, whose prime ministers met at
Hissaria, consider the embargo against this country is ineffective, as it
has no effects on the Milosevic regime. Romanian prime minister Mugur
Isarescu explained in detail to Javier Solana, representing the European
Union at the meeting, the difficulties Romanian economy faced because of
the embargo. He pointed out that the costs deriving from maintining the
sanctions were extremely high for Romania, that has an important fleet
operating on the Danube. Mugur Isarescu also stressed that, considering
Romania was passing a difficult period following a delayed transition with
very few positive economic effects, the restrictive measures associated
with the embargo affected not only transports, but also the commercial
exchanges. The Romanian prime minister considered that under the
circumstances, the financial compensations promissed by the Western
countries were absolutely necessary. According to the TV station ANTENA 1,
Javier Solana recorded the Romanian position, but made no concrete
promisses. The EU representative expressed his confidence the new
Government in Bucharest, headed by a reputed specialist, would be able to
determine the necessary economic recovery, and to assure the conditions
required by Romania's rapid joining the European structures. RADOR
[07] The Government Will Consider the Republic of Moldova's Debts to
Romania
The Government is to analyse on Monday the Republic of Moldova's debts to
Romania. As the TV station PRIMA reports, the Government has not yet taken
a decision regarding the 25 million dollars the Republic of Moldova has to
pay to CONEL. This company notified MOLDTRANSELECTRO the electricity
supplies might be stopped in case the terms of the contract are not
observed. RADOR
[08] The Businessmen Intend to Go on Tax Strike
The businessmen owning small and medium-sized enterprises intend to go on
tax strike, to protest against the tax reform initiated by the Government,
PRIMA TV informs. They say the facilities provided for in Law 133 have been
suspended by the measures adopted. At present, half of the state budget is
fed by the taxes payed by these businessmen. Should they go on tax strike,
the budget for this year would suffer. The owners of small and medium-sized
enterprises require tax exemption for re-invested profit, the allocation of
3% of the gross national product for these enterprises, a clear strategy
for such enterprises, and representation through a counsellor of the prime
minister. RADOR
[09] Unexpected Holidays
The TV station ANTENA 1 informs that school teachers go on strike on Monday
morning, for a whole week. If their demands are not satisfied, they will
resume their protest on February 7. The National Education Ministry was
surprised by this decision and asked the teachers to give up the strike.
RADOR
[10] Heavy Snows All Over the Country
The local authorities make all efforts to clean the roads and to repair the
electricity and telephone lines, RADIO ROMANIA ACTUALITATI informs. The
head of the Local Public Administration Department, Vlad Rosca said all
prefects were informed about the evolution of the weather, mainly that
heavy snows are expected in the South and East, starting with Sunday night.
RADOR
[11] The Negotiations Between the Managers and Trade Unions in the Railroad
Company Failed
The negotiations between the managers and the representatives of the trade
unions in the Railroad Company failed. After several hours of talks,
transport minister Traian Basescu said the suggestions forwarded by the
managers were rejected by the trade unions. He added, quoted by RADIO
ROMANIA ACTUALITATI, the strike scheduled for January 26 would not solve
the trade unions demands, and would only affect those travelling by train.
The trade unions are decided to go on strike on Tuesday morning, despite
the fact that negotiations are continuing. RADOR
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