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NEWS OF THE DAY

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Chambe r Speaker Dragnea: I told Trump we want to take partners hip between
Romania and US to another level
Bucharest, Jan 20 /Agerpres/ - Speaker of the Deputies' Chamber Liviu Dragnea announced
that he attended, together with Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu a inner circle dinner alongside
President-elect of the United States of America Donald Trump, whom they conveyed the wish to take
the strategic partnership between Romania and the US to another level.
"Last evening I had the honor to attend, together with Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu, a
inner circle dinner alongside President-elect of the USA Donald Trump. I have conveyed the
President our wish to take the strategic partnership between Romania and the US to another level.
President Donald Trump responded: "We will make it happen! Romania is important for us!." It was a
warm and open dialogue," the Chairman of the Social Democrat Party (PSD) wrote on Facebook, in a
post which he attached several photos to. AGERPRES
ID: 4797377; Data: 2017-01-20 08:37:13; Redactori: rod/paa

UPDATE/Chamber Speaker Dragnea: I told Trump we want to take partne rship

between Romania and US to another level
Bucharest, Jan 20 /Agerpres/ - Speaker of the Deputies' Chamber Liviu Dragnea announced
that he attended, together with Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu a inner circle dinner alongside
President-elect of the United States of America Donald Trump, whom they conveyed the wish to take
the strategic partnership between Romania and the US to another level.
"Last evening I had the honor to attend, together with Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu, a
inner circle dinner alongside President-elect of the USA Donald Trump. I have conveyed the
President our wish to take the strategic partnership between Romania and the US to another level.
President Donald Trump responded: "We will make it happen! Romania is important for us!." It was a
warm and open dialogue," the Chairman of the Social Democrat Party (PSD) wrote on Facebook, in a
post which he attached several photos to.
Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu wrote on Thursday evening, on the same social network
about "the first meetings" with the new members of the team at the White House.
"Last evening, in Washington, D.C., face to face with President Donald Trump, alongside
Chairman Liviu Dragnea. The first meetings with new members of the team at the White House, of
whom I mention here only Rudolph Giuliani," Grindeanu mentioned in a post on Facebook.
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Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu is attending, together with Speaker of the Deputies' Chamber
Liviu Dragnea the swearing-in ceremony of the new President of the United States of America,
Donald Trump. AGERPRES
ID: 4797410; Data: 2017-01-20 08:54:29; Redactori: rod/paa

Scheduled events for Friday, January 20, 2017

GOVERNMENT:
- Working meeting with ministers on 2017 budget construction
DIPLOMACY:
- Foreign Affairs Minister Teodor Melescanu organises ceremony of signing the contract for
Romania's participation in "Expo Astana - 2017" international exhibition
- Foreign Affairs Minister Teodor Melescanu welcomes US Ambassador Hans Klemm
ECONOMY:
- National Bank of Romania presents statistical data on December 2016 Payment Incidents
Register
English News Desk
Editor-in-chief: Razvan-Adrian Pandea (pra)
Telephone: +40212076171 / +40212076262
Email: emisie@agerpres.ro
www.agerpres. AGERPRES
ID: 4797531; Data: 2017-01-20 10:12:38; Redactori: paa/paa

Tennis: Sorana Cirstea qualifies as a first for Australian Open round of 16

Bucharest, Jan 20 /Agerpres/ - Romanian tennis player Sorana Cirstea qualified in
Melbourne on Friday for the round of 16 in Australian Open, the first Grand Slam of the year, after
she defeated US player Alison Riske, in two sets, 6-2, 7-6 (2).
Cirstea (26, ETA's 78th) managed her best result so far in Melbourne, after she was present
twice in the third round in 2012 and 2013. The best performance in a Grand Slam for Sorana remains
the quarterfinal of 2009, in Roland Garros.
Cirstea won in one hour and 30 minutes.
Sorana now has 3-1 in the direct matches against Riske (26, WTA's 42nd), who won in 2009
in the US Open qualifiers, 6-2, 7-6 (4), and the Romanian player win in 2013 in the round of 16 in
Washington, 3-6, 6-2, 6-3, and in 2014, in Pattaya City (Thailand), also in the round of 16, 6-3, 6-4.
Sorana Cirstea, who secured a 220,000-Australian-dollar cheque and 240 WTA points, will
meet in the quarterfinals the winner between Latvian Anastasija Sevastova (seeded 32nd) and Spanish
Garbine Muguruza, the 7th seeded. AGERPRES
ID: 4797599; Data: 2017-01-20 10:54:40; Redactori: paa/paa

CFR Calatori: 21 trains canceled on Friday morning

Bucharest, Jan 20 /Agerpres/ - CFR Calatori (Romanian National Railway Company)
canceled, on Friday morning, 21 trains which were supposed to head to Constanta and Ialomita
counties, due to unfavorable weather conditions, extremely low temperatures, according to the
information published on the company's website.
"At this hour, the railway traffic is adjusted to the unfavorable weather conditions, extremely
low temperatures down to -25 Celsius degrees. On some secondary routes in the South and South-East
we intervened to remedy some problems on switches, contact line or rolling stock and now traffic is
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only conducted on Diesel locomotives. Due to these reasons, some trains can register delays", the
company specifies.
Out of the 1,300 trains of CFR Calatori that run in Romania on a daily basis, the railway
transport company made the decision to cancel up to 3pct of trains for facilitating the access of
machinery and intervention teams, and avoiding some unpleasant situations for passengers.
Passengers who have tickets/passes to the concerned trains and want to cancel their trip will
receive, by request, the equivalent value, the quoted source mentions. AGERPRES
ID: 4797624; Data: 2017-01-20 11:06:34; Redactori: kan/paa

ILO: Involuntary temporary e mployme nt rate of 85.4 percent in Romania, in 2015

(study)
Bucharest, Jan 20 /Agerpres/ - Romania had a rate of involuntary temporary employment of
85.4 percent in 2015 and an involuntary part-time employment rate of 51.1 percent, according to the
report titled "World Employment and Social Outlook: Trends 2017", carried out by the International
Labour Organization (ILO).
Team Leader at of the Labour Market Trends and Policy Evaluation Unit Research
Department within the ILO, believes that involuntary temporary employment represents the share of
the people who are hired temporary and who would have preferred a permanent contract. Similarly,
the involuntary part-time employment represents the share of people who are working part-time and
would have wanted to have a full-time job.
According to the study, the highest levels regarding temporary and part-time employment
were recorded in Spain and Cyprus.
Steven Tobin says, based on the most recent available information that the unemployment
rate will remain in Romania, on average, similar to the one in 2016, because of the economic growth
slowdown and because the employment of work force will decrease.
Worldwide, the unemployment level and rate are to stay high on short-term. The
unemployment rate is expected to grow in 2017 to 5.8 percent (from 5.7 percent in 2016), a
percentage which represents more than 3.4 million unemployed on a worldwide level (bringing
unemployment to just over 201 million persons in 2017). Moreover, the pace which the work force
grows with will exceed job creation, resulting in an additional 2.7 million people without a job
worldwide. AGERPRES
ID: 4797662; Data: 2017-01-20 11:21:44; Redactori: rod/paa

Tennis: Australian Open - Tecau and Mergea, qualifies for round of 16 in men's
doubles
Bucharest, Jan 20 /Agerpres/ - Romanians Horia Tecau and Florin Mergea, who are in
different pairs, have qualified, on Friday, in Melbourne, for the round of 16 of men's doubles in
Australian Open, the first Big Slam of the year.
Tecau and the Dutch Jean-Julien Rojer, seeded 11th, defeated in the second round the Dutch
pairing Wesley Koolhof/Matwe Middelkoop, 6-3, 6-4, after one hour and 10 minutes.
In the round of 16, the Romanian-Dutch couple will play against Australians Marc
Polmans/Andrew Whittington, the unexpected winners against the 8th seeded pair, Daniel Nester
(Canada)/Edouard Roger-Vasselin (France), with 0-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Florin Mergea and Briton Dominic Inglot, 16th seeded, have won in three sets, with 3-6, 7-6
(5), 7-6 (2), against the French Julien Benneteau/Jeremy Chardy pairing, after two hours and 38
minutes.
In the round of 16, Mergea and Inglot could face other French players, Pierre-Hugues
Herbert/Nicolas Mahut, if the main seeds win the Polish couple Jerzy Janowicz/Marcin Matkowski.
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The pairing who for the round of 16 have secured checks amounting to 40,000 Australian
dollars and 180 ATP points each. AGERPRES
ID: 4797704; Data: 2017-01-20 11:46:02; Redactori: kan/paa

ForMin Melescanu meets US Ambassador; Minister underlines importance of direct

dialogue
Bucharest, Jan 20 /Agerpres/ - Foreign Affairs Minister Teodor Melescanu on Friday met US
Ambassador in Bucharest Hans Klemm, on which occasion the Romanian chief diplomat underscored
the need for a direct dialogue of the US Embassy, and not through the media, with the Foreign Affairs
Ministry (MAE) and the governmental authorities.
"During the talks, the Foreign Affairs Minister firmly argued the need for a direct dialogue of
the US Embassy, and not through the media, with the Foreign Affairs Ministry and the governmental
authorities, in accordance with the spirit of the strategic partnership relations, with the observance of
the diplomatic standards and practices," reads a MAE release sent to AGERPRES.
According to the MAE, the two officials referred, during the meeting, to the relevance of the
Strategic Partnership between Romania and the US and mentioned the importance of further
developing it, on all its dimensions.
In context, the Romanian side brought to mind the Government's commitment, reflected in the
governance programme, to strengthen the relations with the US, the release points out. AGERPRES
ID: 4797901; Data: 2017-01-20 13:14:26; Redactori: paa/paa

Iohannis on pardon and criminal codes amendment drafts: Enough arguments for
Gov't to withdraw them
Bucharest, Jan 20 /Agerpres/ - President Klaus Iohannis maintains that there are enough
arguments to determine the Government to withdraw the drafts referring to pardon and the
amendment of the criminal codes, mentioning that these are "null and void" and seem to be made
"with a dedication."
"The emergency ordinance drafts on pardon and the amendment of the criminal codes are null
and void, unacceptable and seem to be made with a dedication, according to the most authorised
voices in Justice. The General Prosecutor's Office, the High Court of Cassation and Justice, the
Directorate for Investigating Organised Crime and Terrorism, the magistrates' associations and
organisations of the civil society have firmly pronounced their being against the modification of the
legislative framework referring to corruption, abuse of office and integrity, on an emergency regime,
without objective assessments and in complete lack of transparency. There are enough arguments to
determine the Government to withdraw these emergency ordinances," Iohannis writes on Facebook on
Friday. AGERPRES
ID: 4797942; Data: 2017-01-20 13:24:21; Redactori: paa/paa

Minister Gabriel Petrea: Strengthening social dialogue - essential for a healthy economy
Bucharest, Jan 20 /Agerpres/ - The Minister for Public Consultation and Social Dialogue,
Gabriel Petrea, had on Thursday a series of meetings with representatives of union federations and
employers' confederations at their request.
According to a press release posted on Friday on the MCPDS (Ministry for Public
Consultation and Social Dialogue) website, the Minister for Social Dialogue met with delegates of
"CONCORDIA" employers' confederation, Nationa l Federation of Administration Unions, "ANTIC"
Union Alliance in Information Technology and Communications, Publisind Federation, as well as of
the Romanian Banking Association.
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The quoted source mentions that, in the discussions, Petrea has underscored the necessity of
continuing the dialogue with all the society's actors.
"Strengthening the social dialogue is essential for increasing the competitiveness in a healthy
economy. I will have meetings and discussions to the point with all the involved factors in society in
the sight of consolidating the role of the institution of social dialogue and bringing back the civic and
social partners in public decisions," the Minister stated, quoted in a press release.
Furthermore, he has underscored that the MCPDS will continue to ensure promoting with
responsibility a dialogue framework with the unions, employers's associations and civil society
organizations as partners of the Government.
"I welcome the specialist groups which have registered in the Unique Registry of Interest
Transparency (RUTI) and will continue to invite all those who will request a meeting to register. In
the next period I have asked each official from the Grindeanu Cabinet to designate a person for the
administration of the account and registering the meetings," Petrea specified, according to the same
press release. AGERPRES
ID: 4797981; Data: 2017-01-20 13:36:19; Redactori: kan/paa

ANP's Vulpe: It takes three-four years to bring to minimum standards spaces offered
by MApN
Bucharest, Jan 20 /Agerpres/ - Director of the National Administration of the Penitentiaries
(ANP) Marius Vulpe claimed on Friday that it could last three or four years until the spaces offered
by the National Defence Ministry (MApN) or other institutions could be brought to the minimum
standards in order to accommodate prisoners.
He mentioned that in the context of the High Court of Justice and Cassation's proposal in
respect to arranging some spaces for detention in military units which were decommissioned, as a
solution to overpopulated prisons.
"A technical expertise of these spaces is necessary, in order to establish the degree of attrition,
endurance and stability. The transformation of these spaces is necessary and it implies large
construction and installation works, through investments and interventions. It's a false solution that
tomorrow we can move prisoners there, because that would need investments which, normally,
according to the calculations of the specialists in the penitentiary system could last a lmost three or
four years in order to succeed to bring them to the minimum standard for accommodating prisoners,"
Marius Vulpe explained in a press conference.
According to him, it must be taken into account that each new space needs new human
resources, "penitentiary workers to guard prisoners, (...) to feed them and so on," regardless of its
capacity to accommodate prisoners.
In respect to the spaces taken over by the ANP in the period 1998 - 2015, Marius Vulpe
pointed out that those spaces don't meet the minimum safety and security requirements regarding the
accommodation of some persons.
Regarding the buildings offered by the MApN in 2016, Vulpe mentioned that neither those
can be used for accommodating prisoners.
The High Court of Justice and Cassation proposed to arrange several detention spaces in
decommissioned military units, as a solution to overpopulated prisons. AGERPRES
ID: 4797997; Data: 2017-01-20 13:40:14; Redactori: rod/paa

Euro trades at 4.4955 lei

Bucharest, Jan 20 /Agerpres/ - The exchange rate of the national leu currency resulting from
the quotations announced on Friday by the banks authorized to operate on the currency market is as
follows:
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CURRENCY
SYMBOL
RON
1 Euro
EUR
4.4955
1 US dollar
USD
4.2279
1 Swiss franc
CHF
4.1918
1 British pound
GBP
5.1959
100 Japanese yen
JPY
3.6684
1 Moldovan leu
MDL
0.2093
1 Russian rouble
RUB
0.0707
1 new Turkish lira
TRY
1.1059
1 Chinese renminbi
CNY
0.6147
1 gram of gold
XAU
163.0860
1 SDR
XDR
5.7098
The exchange rates of the currencies included in the list are based on the quotations of the
banking companies authorized to carry out operations on the currency market. This list does not make
it compulsory to use the exchange rates of currencies and gold in actual transactions of currency
exchange and book entries. AGERPRES
ID: 4798016; Data: 2017-01-20 13:44:39; Redactori: kan/paa

Roaming charges' cancelation inside EU on 15 June will bring important benefits to

Romanian users
Bucharest, Jan 20 /Agerpres/ - The roaming charges inside the European Union to be
canceled starting 15 June 2017 will bring important benefits to the Romanian end users since they'll
join the advantages of the community internal market, the president of the National Authority for
Communications Administration and Regulation (ANCOM), Catalin Marinescu, told AGERPRES on
Friday.
"If I think of the challenging targets on our agenda, with all those new elements, I'd mention
the ones referring to the fact that we want to make sure that the users in Romania could best capitalise
on the EU internal market's benefits. Firstly, it is about the elimination of the roaming charges inside
the EU. Starting 15 June 2017, the Romanian end users (on subscriptions or pre-paid cards) will be
able to use the minutes/text messages (SMS)/MB(GB) available at national level outside their own
network, in roaming included, inside the EU with no additional costs. As for the pre-paid end users
and those who benefit from unlimited rates' plans, the providers will be able to apply certain
reasonable limits as regards the roaming data services consumed inside the EU. The principles for
establishing these reasonable limits were agreed at European level, but ANCOM has several
responsibilities with respect to the concrete way they will be enforced and monitored," said
Marinescu.
On the other hand, the ANCOM head specified that in Romania exist too many localities with
no communication coverage and a way too high connectivity deficit where networks do exist, which
is why the provisions of the Law 159/2016 on the new infrastructures' regime should be enforced
effectively. AGERPRES
ID: 4798091; Data: 2017-01-20 14:09:35; Redactori: mav/paa

JusMin Iordache on President's request: When PM returns to country you will know
Gov's point of view
Bucharest, Jan 20 /Agerpres/ - The Government will offer a response to President Klaus
Iohannis, who requested the withdrawal of the drafts on pardon and the amendments of the Criminal
Codes when Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu returns to the country, Justice Minister Florin Iordache
stated.
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"It will be discussed in the Government and the answer will be formally given when the
Prime Minister returns. If you ask me, personally, we init iated them precisely to have points of view
and observations regarding these draft laws. If they were to sit in a drawer and we didn't wait or didn't
have points of view, what would we have been talking about? Their role was precisely to have an
opinion, but I knew the prosecutors' point of view because they have built these cases, people have
been convicted. I am looking for a solution, if someone can give me a solution, no doubt that we will
embrace it. This is why it's a draft in debate. When the Prime Minister returns to the country, you will
have the Government's point of view," the Minister stated on Friday on the B1 TV private television
station, when asked what is his response to President Iohannis' request.
President Klaus Iohannis maintained on Friday that there are enough arguments to determine
the Government to withdraw the drafts referring to pardon and the amendment of the criminal codes,
mentioning that these are "null and void" and seem to be made "with a dedication."
"The emergency ordinance drafts on pardon and the amendment of the criminal codes are null
and void, unacceptable and seem to be made with a dedication, according to the most authorised
voices in Justice. The General Prosecutor's Office, the High Court of Cassation and Justice, the
Directorate for Investigating Organised Crime and Terrorism, the magistrates' associations and
organisations of the civil society have firmly pronounced their being against the modification of the
legislative framework referring to corruption, abuse of office and integrity, on an emergency regime,
without objective assessments and in complete lack of transparency. There are enough arguments to
determine the Government to withdraw these emergency ordinances," Iohannis writes on Facebook.
AGERPRES
ID: 4798147; Data: 2017-01-20 14:26:49; Redactori: rod/paa

Bank payme nt incidents up in December (National Bank of Romania)

Bucharest, Jan 20 /Agerpres/ - Payments by instruments rejected by banks have rose by 9.45
pct in December 2016 as compared to November 2016, from 314.4 million lei to 344.1 million lei,
according to data of the Payment Incidents Register of the National Bank of Romania (BNR, the
central bank).
As compared to the previous year, the payment incidents advanced by 8.8 percent, given that
in January 2016 they totalled 316.35 million lei.
On the other hand, the number of operations rejected by banks has grown from 4,921 in
November, to 5,474 in December, above the previous year's figure of 4,846 payment incidents.
The biggest part of transactions refused by banks, both in value and as regards the number of
incidents originates from the payments with promissory notes. In December, 5,103 such instruments
were rejected, worth 334.5 million lei, as compared to 4,681, amounting to 304.9 million le i in
November.
As for the payments with checks, the sums refused by banks increased from 9.47 million lei
in November to 9.56 million lei in December.AGERPRES
ID: 4798301; Data: 2017-01-20 15:20:49; Redactori: pra/mav

Over 8,000 police staff, gendarmes on duty during Romanian Principalities Union Day's
mini-holiday
Bucharest, Jan 20 /Agerpres/ - Approximately 8,000 police staff, beyond the additional
number, will be on duty to prevent and combat the antisocial deeds, during the mini-holiday of the
Romanian Principalities Union Day, giving a special attention to the public events a large number of
people are expected to attend.
"In 23 and 24 January, in as many as 34 counties and in Bucharest 70 public events are to be
organised with over 40,000 people expected to attend. Therefore, almost 2,000 police staff and
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gendarmes are mobilised to secure the smooth running of these events," a release sent on Friday to
AGERPRES by the Internal Affairs Ministry (MAI) reads.
At the same time, over 2,000 road police officers will be on duty on the main roads to manage
the traffic flow and prevent serious road accidents.
As many as 4,000 gendarmes will be busy with guarding targets and other public order
actions, while in the mountain resorts 600 mountain gendarmes are ready to intervene in the tourists'
aid over.
"These days, at national level 5,000 fire fighters will be mobilised to take all necessary
measures to make an operative response to emergency cases, if needed," added the MAI release.
The emergency medical intervention will be ensured on average by 286 Emergency Mobile
Resuscitation and Extrication Service (SMURD) ambulances daily, which 750 ambulances will add
to, all of them under the operative coordination of the Emergency Situations Department.
Also, the Aviation General Inspectorate is prepared with 12 helicopters and an airplane for
medical emergency needs and air support to the other structures of the MAI during the operative
missions.
In order to monitor the risk situations for population and coordinate the MAI structures'
actions, the National Centre for Integrated Management is activated these days.AGERPRES
ID: 4798302; Data: 2017-01-20 15:22:02; Redactori: mav/pra

As many as 4 tonnes of seized food, up to 400,000 lei in fines in only 20 days

Bucharest, Jan 20 /Agerpres/ - The veterinary inspectors have seized over 4 tonnes of noncompliant food and have given fines of over 397,470 lei, following controls they've completed in 22
December 2016 - 10 January 2017, to as many as 2,704 food manufacturing and trading units, on
Friday announced the National Sanitary Veterinary Authority of Food Safety (ANSVSA), sent to
AGERPRES.
"The irregularities found were sanctioned with 181 fines, 4 units receiving an activity
suspension order, while other 12 were forbidden activity altogether. The fines' total amount topped
397,470 lei, while the products' seized exceed 4 tonnes," says the release.
The ANSVSA inspectors targeted the animal fairs, the agri-food markets, the slaughter
houses, the meat cutting units, the animal foodstuff processing and deposit units , the retail units
(butchers' shops, pizzerias, cafeterias, catering units, bakeries, confectionery/pastry laboratories, bed
and breakfast units, hypermarkets and supermarkets, grocery stores, etc).
The County of Cluj is leading the top of the fines, 121,200 lei, for improper hygiene of the
storage, manufacturing and sales of the food stuffs or of the tools used to handling them, for improper
labeling of the food dedicated to direct sale to the end consumer or raw materials used in the
fabrication process with exceeded shelf life, etc.
Dolj County was second, with 64,000 lei in fines, for incomplete labeling of products,
improper storage of the food stuff, scarce hygiene.
At the opposite end is the County of Timis, with only 600 lei in fines for improper
handling.AGERPRES
ID: 4798437; Data: 2017-01-20 16:07:18; Redactori: mav/pra

ForMin Melescanu: I assured Ambassador Kle mm I am capable of unde rstanding very

direct messages
Bucharest, Jan 20 /Agerpres/ - Minister of Foreign Affairs, Teodor Melescanu, has stated on
Friday that he has assured US Ambassador in Bucharest, Hans Klemm, during the meeting they had in
the first half of the day, that he is capable of understanding very direct messages and that "it is not

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normal when there are certain topics of interest for bilateral affairs they be brought to knowledge
through the press".
"There was a discussion which, from my point of view, started from a very clear point,
namely that Romania is a sovereign state, an ally of the United States of American and a partner state
of the US," the Romanian Minister of Foreign Affairs stated at the MAE headquarters.
He emphasized the importance of the Romania-US bilateral partnership.
"From our point of view, of the current government, the continuation and development of the
strategic partnership with the US is one of the priorities that we have assumed and we will do all that
is in our power for this partnership to develop, to expand, being about the most important partner that
we have internationally," the Foreign Affairs Minister stated.
Furthermore, the head of Romanian diplomacy added that important messages must be sent
directly, between institutions.
"At the same time, I have referred to the fact that it is not normal that when certain topics of
interest for bilateral relations exist, they be brought to knowledge through the press. I have assured
Mr. Ambassador that I am capable of understanding when I am spoken to very directly and that we
hope such things not happen in the future," Teodor Melescanu said.
He added that the discussion did not have as a subject specific cases.
"I have referred to the fact that when there are things to transmit, they should be transmitted
institutionally. (...) and not through the press. I did not discuss anything of concrete topics, it was a
discussion of principles, which I believe clarified the way in which our government sees the
collaboration with the United States and all the embassies present in Bucharest," Melescanu
said.AGERPRES
ID: 4798451; Data: 2017-01-20 16:13:17; Redactori: pra/mav

Gorghiu: I believe a PNL leader to focus on right-wing unification is needed to win 2019
presidential election
Bucharest, Jan 20 /Agerpres/ - Senator Alina Gorghiu be lieves that the National Liberal
Party (PNL) should have a leader to target the unification of the right-wing by the Europarliamentary
election, with a view to win once again the presidential election of 2019.
"I believe that a PNL leader to aim at the unification of the Right until the Europarliamentary
election is needed, to have the time to generate and enforce this project in order to win the presidential
election once again," Alina Gorghiu asserted on Friday in Timisoara in a news conference.
According to her, those who will run the party should assume very clearly the political project
of reuniting the right-wing, a project she is going to back and without which "no one should ever wish
the candidacy to run the PNL."
By answering a question from the press, Alina Gorghiu stressed that the unification of the
right-wing has only functioned on the short-term, when political alliances were fathered.
"I believe that a long-term coagulation could be done exclusively through a merger of the
right-wing parties," said Alina Gorghiu.
The Liberal senator believes that it is paramount for the Liberals to see that the right-wing is
brought to pieces and "we must find that always, before the presidential election, a leader with a
vision, no matter which leader, has managed to coagulate the structures on the right wing (...)."
Alina Gorghiu stressed she doesn't talk right now about right-wings party names and their
leaders, but only principles, and yet she referred to the Save Romania Union (USR) and the Alliance
of Liberals and Democrats (ALDE), the decision being on the future PNL legal leadership.
AGERPRES
ID: 4798485; Data: 2017-01-20 16:26:01; Redactori: mav/pra

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Romania inks contract to participate in 'Expo Astana - 2017'

Bucharest, Jan 20 /Agerpres/ - Rapil Zhoshybayev, First Deputy of the Foreign Affairs
Minister of the Government of Kazakhstan and Romania's Commissioner for 'Expo Astana - 2017',
Radu Serban, inked the contract of Romania's participation in the said exhibition on Friday, at the
Foreign Affairs Ministry (MAE) seat, in the presence of Minister Teodor Melescanu.
The chief diplomat said that Romania will participate with a 370-sqm national pavilion where
both traditions and perspectives of the Romanian energy will be displayed.
"Romania is among the European Union's front-runners as regards the weight of the
renewable energies in the total national power mix," said Melescanu, who also talked about the ELINP (Extreme Light Infrastructure - Nuclear Physics) project in Magurele, which develops the most
innovative laser worldwide.
"We intend to present this project in our pavilion," said Melescanu.
According to the minister, the recent decision by the Kazakh government to cancel mandatory
short-stay visas for Romanian citizens starting with 1 January 2017 will be "a good stimulus" for the
Romanians who wish to visit Astana.
Radu Serban added that in Kazakhstan live around 21,000 Romanians and Moldovans.
Romania's participation with a national pavilion in this exhibition to unfold 10 June through
10 September is an opportunity to promote the country's interests, by approaching this current theme,
the "Energy of the future."
After 1989, Romania has participated in all the world expos organised by the International
Bureau for Exhibitions.AGERPRES
ID: 4798615; Data: 2017-01-20 17:15:52; Redactori: mav/pra

US Embassy after Melescanu-Klemm meeting: Embassy values ongoign dialogue with

Romanian institutions and public
Bucharest, Jan 20 /Agerpres/ - The Embassy of the United States values ongoing dialogue
with the Government and the other institutions of the Romanian state, as well as with the Romanian
public, on matters of mutual concern, a release of the US diplomatic mission in Bucharest, remitted on
Friday to AGERPRES, shows.
The statement comes in the context in which the US Ambassador in Bucharest, Hans Klemm,
has met, on Friday, with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Teodor Melescanu.
"The Embassy of the United States in Bucharest acknowledges that Ambassador Hans Klemm
met with Foreign Minister Teodor Melescanu earlier today. The Ambassador congratulated the
Minister on his appointment, and noted the United States' commitment to strengthening our strategic
partnership, a partnership based on shared values and the common goals of promoting regional
security, economic prosperity and the rule of law," the quoted source mentions.
Furthermore, the importance that the diplomatic mission attaches to the dialogue with the
state institutions and the public in Romania is emphasized.
"The United States Embassy values its ongoing dialogue with the Government and other
institutions of the Romanian state, as well as with the Romanian public on matters of mutual
concern," the release shows.AGERPRES
ID: 4798617; Data: 2017-01-20 17:15:59; Redactori: pra/mav

Basescu on pardoning: Honest dialogue between magistrates and politicians, based

strictly on European standards, is solution
Bucharest, Jan 20 /Agerpres/ - The chairman of the People's Movement Party (PMP), Traian
Basescu, stated that "honest dialogue" between magistrates and politicians, based strictly on European

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standards and on openness to a functional rule of law, represents the key to solving the situation
created regarding the law on pardoning.
"These days a bitter fight has started between magistrates (especially prosecutors) and
politicians. Such a battle will lead nowhere, unless maybe to the discrediting of one, the other, or both
combatants. What is right is that the Government and Parliament have the constitutional responsibility
of criminal policy, while magistrates have the obligation of implementing this policy. At the same
time, magistrates are right when they claim the Government's projects are poorly built and, especially,
with someone in mind," Traian Basescu wrote on Facebook.
He added that "for both parties, the interests are almost transparent."
"Magistrates want to keep politicians on a leash showing them the cuffs and the doors of jails
with hard years of prison, while politicians want to get out of jail a certain political clientele. I
understand well the stake of each party: Power," Basescu said.
The PMP chair claimed that "honest dialogue" represents the solution to the situation created
on the topic of law-making in the area of pardoning.
"There is only one solution: Honest dialogue between the two powers, based strictly on
European standards, on openness towards a functional rule of law, which starts from the premises that
the essence of democracy means respecting fundamental rights, on the one hand, and, on the other,
respecting the principle that nobody is above the law. And, in this dispute, one matter must be kept in
mind, a matter which supports the law system of civilized democratic states, namely that any person
has the right to a second chance (especially if he covers the damages)," Basescu concluded.
AGERPRES
ID: 4798695; Data: 2017-01-20 17:48:58; Redactori: pra/mav

AHK Romania: Romanian-German trade up to over EUR 24 bln in January-November

2016
Bucharest, Jan 20 /Agerpres/ - Romania is a strategic economic partner to the German
economy, the bilateral trade registering over EUR 24 billion in the first 11 months of 2016 (+13pct),
which means 20pct of the Romanian total foreign trade, reads a release by the Romanian-German
Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AHK Romania), sent on Friday to AGERPRES.
Around 8,000 German companies, with German capital respectively, are active in Romania
and have contributed to creating, guaranteeing jobs. According to AHK Romania estimates, the
German companies employ over 250,000 people in Romania. The German direct investments sum up
to EUR 8 billion.
"As the most current circumstantial questionnaires say, the juridical stability, the
predictability of the economic and political decisions, and the stable economic conditions-framework
are important criteria to the German companies for an investment," say the AHK Romania
representatives.
Besides this, the German companies see "with very good eyes" the anti-corruption fight and
want it to go on.
In addition, AHK Romania says that not only the German companies need juridical stability
and a stable business environment, so that to further invest in Romania and create jobs.
The Romanian-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (AHK Romania) is the official
representative of the German economy and at the same time the largest bilateral trade chamber in
Romania. Established in 2002, AHK Romania counts for over 550 member companies currently and
offers the companies an important platform for networking, exchange of information and
experiences.AGERPRES
ID: 4798717; Data: 2017-01-20 17:57:42; Redactori: mav/pra

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Two Romanian citizens rescued from Italian avalanche -hit hotel

Bucharest, Jan 20 /Agerpres/ - Two Romanian citizens - one adult, one child, reported to
have been missing following the avalanche that hit a hotel in Farindola, Abruzzo, were identified and
are alive, the Foreign Affairs Ministry (MAE) informs, based on Italian authorities' input.
The Romanian nationals are currently out of danger at a hospital in Pescara. The Romanian
Embassy in Rome keeps in touch permanently with the medical unit's officials, says the MAE in a
release sent on Friday to AGERPRES.
The Romanian diplomatic mission's officials are also in touch with both the family of the
Romanian nationals, granting the necessary support, and the Italian competent authorities who are
managing the rescue operations, with a view to obtain concrete information regarding any other
Romanian citizens affected, the ministry adds.
MAE reminds that the Romanian citizens affected could ask for consular assistance by dialing
the following numbers of the Romanian Embassy in Rome: (0039) 06 835 233 58, (0039) 06 835 233
56, (0039) 06 835 233 52; (0039) 06 835 233 44 - the calls being redirected to the Support and
Contact Centre of the Romanian citizens Abroad (CCSCRS) and taken over by the call centres'
operators on a permanent basis or could dial the diplomatic mission's emergency number: (0039)
3451473935.AGERPRES
ID: 4798753; Data: 2017-01-20 18:14:55; Redactori: mav/pra

High avalanche risk at over 1,800m in Bucegi, Fagaras Mts.

Bucharest, Jan 20 /Agerpres/ - A significant avalanche risk (3rd degree) is signaled by the
officials of the Sibiu Regional Weather Prognosis Service at over 1,800 m in Bucegi Mts. and in
Fagaras Mts' northern face.
"During the day, spontaneous surface flows and avalanches could occur due to sunstroke,"
reads the snow bulletin sent on Friday to AGERPRES.
Below 1,800 m high in the massives of Bucegi and Fagaras, its northern slope, the avalanche
risk is moderate (2nd degree).
The snow layer measures 124 cm at Balea Lake, 53 cm at Predeal, 50 cm at Fundata, 41 cm at
Sinaia, and only 22 cm at Omu Peak (2,505 m).AGERPRES
ID: 4798824; Data: 2017-01-20 18:59:36; Redactori: mav/pra

Membe rs of the Cabinet analyse budget draft law, set Gov't sitting for 25 January
Bucharest, Jan 20 /Agerpres/ - Members of the Cabinet have analysed on Friday during a
technical working sitting the Draft budget law for 2017 and agreed upon the budget limits for each
ministry and main credit administrators, the Executive's Press Office informs in a release sent to
AGERPRES.
The construction of the budget bill has considered, according to the source, the assurance of
financing in 2017 of the measures adopted by the Government in compliance with the ruling
programme, given the 3pct budget deficit limitation of the Gross Domestic Product and the 2pct
allocation to the Defence Ministry.
The source mentions that the Government is to reunite in a sitting on 25 January to debate and
adopt the state budget draft law and the state social insurance budget on 2017.AGERPRES
ID: 4798895; Data: 2017-01-20 19:38:21; Redactori: mav/pra

Englis h Service Team, January 20, 2017

Editor-in-chief Razvan-Adrian Pandea (pra)
Editors
Rodica Ionita (rod)
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Carolina Novac (kan)

Adina Panaitescu (paa)
Maria Voican (mav)
Secretary
Atena Alexe Timocicu (ate)
AGERPRES
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