Subject: Re: SBU: Bucharest Morning News, 3/21/12
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To: "Beau" <[email-masked]>
Cc: "Snyder-Mackler Alex" <[email-masked]>, "Biden Hunter" <[email-masked]>, "Rogalsky Joe" <[email-masked]>
Date: Thu, 22 Mar 2012 09:48:15 +0000 (UTC)

impressive 

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To: "Kaufman Ted" <[email-masked]>, "Snyder-Mackler Alex" <[email-masked]>, "Biden Hunter" <[email-masked]>, "Rogalsky Joe" <[email-masked]> 
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Subject: Fwd: SBU: Bucharest Morning News, 3/21/12 

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From: "Gitenstein, Mark H" < [email-masked] > 
Date: March 21, 2012 1:07:47 PM GMT+02:00 
To: < [email-masked] > 
Subject: Fw: SBU: Bucharest Morning News, 3/21/12 

<blockquote>

From : Wetzel, Kenneth 
Sent : Wednesday, March 21, 2012 11:02 AM 
To : Anderson, Ida; Armaselu, Mihaela; Banchero, Anna M; Bonvicin, Jeffrey J; Botea, Roxana; Bucharest ECON; Bucharest POL; Burba, Peter A; Butcher, Duane C; Carney J. < [email-masked] >; Clark, Michael J; Corral, Georgette S; Damian, Ioana; Debevoise, Lyn; Dima Vladimir < [email-masked] >; Dorsey, Roderick E; Dragan, Monica; Dubesteanu M. < [email-masked] >; Eaton, Matthew < [email-masked] >; Eggum, Troy < [email-masked] >; Erdogan, Engin < [email-masked] >; Fang, Bay; Fincht J. < [email-masked] >; Fusman, Freddie; Garro, Susan P; Gatehouse, Robert R; Gitenstein, Mark H; Guy, Patricia H; Hancock, Shannon M; Harry Giknavorian < [email-masked] >; Ionescu Anca < [email-masked] >; James Cheney < [email-masked] >; Jim Cham < [email-masked] >; Johnston Richard < [email-masked] >; Karl Schwab < [email-masked] >; Kleiner Bruce 2 < [email-masked] >; Kleiner, Bruce P; Koliqi, Anton < [email-masked] >; Konditi, Tomika L < [email-masked] >; Koza, Natalie R; Krhounek, Kimberly C; Lahm, Martin L; Latham, Ernest < [email-masked] >; Leedy, Jean B; Lobdell, Charles A; Maciejewski, Sarah A < [email-masked] >; Manning, Tim < [email-masked] >; Mary C. McKenna < [email-masked] >; Mason, Tyler L; McCutcheon, Robyn A; Meininger, Laurie J; Menendez, Bianca E; Mihaela Armaselu < [email-masked] >; Muir, Jeff < [email-masked] >; NATO-ISAF < [email-masked] >; Negoita C. < [email-masked] >; O'Malley, Timothy J; OSD Group < [email-masked] >; Pica, Krista C; Plumley, Lindsey M; Popa, Ana Maria; Repoli, Christopher A; Sagitto, Edwina; Schlink, Mark J; Sean Clements < [email-masked] >; Selinger, Marta U; Silkman H. < [email-masked] >; Spurlock William < [email-masked] >; Stern, Marjorie A; Strike, Andrew P (PACE); Sullivan, Liam L; Sutton, David O; Trimble, Joseph F; Vandelac, Joseph W; Vann, Stephen A; Vasile, Iulia; Wetzel, Kenneth; Yin, Dara 
Subject : SBU: Bucharest Morning News, 3/21/12 

Morning News summary 

March 21, 2012 

Bilateral News 

Regional judicial conference opens in Bucharest 

Most media covered the regional conference “Promoting Transparency and Accountability with the Judiciary” opening yesterday in Bucharest. Excerpts of speeches by Ambassador Gitenstein, German Ambassador von Mettenheim, keynote speaker Delaware Attorney General Biden, and Justice and Foreign Affairs Ministers Predoiu and Diaconescu were carried by media. Hotnews, Privesc.eu , TVRInfo carried live transmissions from the U.S. Embassy Bucharest-hosted conference. 

http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-esential-11791001-astazi-are-loc-deschiderea-conferintei-lupta-impotriva-coruptiei-coruptiei-promovarea-transparentei-responsabilitatii-justitie.htm 

U.S. lawyers participating in regional judicial conference meet law students 

Regional conference participants Laura Wertheimer and Andrew Pincus will meet today with students at the University of Bucharest law school students to discuss judicial ethics. ( Evenimentul Zilei ) 

http://www.evz.ro/detalii/stiri/avocati-americani-in-vizita-la-universitatea-din-bucuresti-972442.html 

FBI investigates in Iasi 

Two FBI agents went to Iasi last week to take DNA samples from 25-year old Romanian Stefan Barabas, who is suspected of collaborating with two other Romanians in a case in which captive U.S. millionaire Anne Bass and her boyfriend were held captive in Connecticut, in 2007. A prosecutor from the Iasi Court of Appeals Iasi told media U.S. authorities had requested identification of two Romanians in the case, which media reports to be Stefan Barabas from Iasi and Nicolae Helerea from Brasov. Emanuel Nicolescu, a third Romanian national involved in the case, was arrested by Homeland Security officers last year and is currently on trial in New Haven, Connecticut. ( Adevarul, Pro TV ) 

http://www.adevarul.ro/locale/iasi/Acesta_este_romanul_judecat_in_SUA_pentru_sechestrarea_milionarei_Anne_Bass_0_667133446.html 

Peace Corps volunteer teaches Romanian children English 

A positive article features Peace Corps volunteer Barbara Wilger who left her job in a multinational company to teach English to Romanian children in Turnu Severin. ( Adevarul ) 

http://www.adevarul.ro/locale/turnu-severin/Barbara-Wilger-Corpul-Pacii-mehedinteni_0_666533410.html# 

Shale gas could pose health threat 

Romanian media quote a study by the Colorado School of Public Health claiming the drilling process known as “fracking” may release harmful gases into the atmosphere which could cause headaches and breathing difficulties. ( Ziare.com ) 

http://www.ziare.com/stiri/gaze/extractia-gazelor-de-sist-un-pericol-la-adresa-sanatatii-1157181 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/environment/9153228/Fracking-could-pose-health-threat.html 

Domestic News 

Chamber of Deputies lifts immunity for PDL deputy 

The Chamber of Deputies voted yesterday to lift the immunity of Mihail Boldea (PDL), who is facing embezzlement charges. The Ministry of Justice requested the Chamber of Deputies to take a vote to allow for the arrest of the deputy. The vote was made possible after a number of USL deputies, who are otherwise boycotting parliament, attended to provide a quorum . ( Ziare.com ) 

http://www.ziare.com/mihail-boldea/stiri-mihail-boldea/boldea-poate-fi-perchezitionat-si-arestat-au-votat-deputatii-1157144 

Government adopts anti-corruption strategy 

On Tuesday, the Government approved the National Anti-Corruption Strategy for 2012-2015, which includes anti-corruption legislation to implement recommendations from the European Commission for the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism, Justice Minister Predoiu announced. The strategy simplifies the procedure to lift parliamentary immunity. The Government proposed that the ruling coalition adopt a political declaration to apply the strategy. The political declaration will be sent to Parliament. ( Hotnews ) 

http://www.hotnews.ro/stiri-esential-11792629-guvernul-aprobat-strategia-nationala-anticoruptie.htm 

Prosecutors seek prison sentence for former PM Nastase 

Prosecutors have asked for prison sentences for former PM Adrian Nastase and his wife Dana in the corruption case “Zambaccian.” The High Court of Justice and Cassation will a sentence March 30. Nastase’s lawyer said that the Anti-Corruption Directorate (DNA) fabricated the case, saying that banknotes presented as evidence on www. moneyfactory.gov were allegedly printed after Adrian Nastase had been charged. Prosecutors denied these allegations. In the Zambaccian case, Nastase is accused of receiving over 630,000 euros in money, goods, and services 2002 -2004. ( Hotnews ) 

http://anticoruptie.hotnews.ro/stiri-anticoruptie-11791371-procurorul-dna-cerut-pedeapsa-inchisoarea-pentru-adrian-nastase-dana-nastase-dosarul-zambaccian.htm 

People’s Party to align with USL 

People’s Party Chairperson Dan Diaconescu announced last night he would prefer an alliance with USL if his party gets into the parliament alongside PDL and USL. He would help USL to suspend President Basescu, but admitted he is not going to be loyal to USL. On the contrary, he would help the two USL parties USL get rid of their leaders. Once again, Diaconescu accused President Basescu for being behind his arrest a couple of years ago. ( ziare.com ) 

Prosecutors arrest Roma mafia for tax evasion 

Prosecutors gathered evidence showing tax evasion by a Roma mafia clan in Strehaia, Mehedinti County reached 4 million euros, with losses to the Romanian state budget of 15 million euros. The money was allegedly used for houses, cars, jewels and others luxury items. Several Roma were arrested and some local police are being investigated for collaboration. ( Adevarul) 

New legislation on adoption 

New legislation on adoption to be enforced in April will shorten the length of the adoption procedure, enabling a baby to be adopted in 30 days once the birth certificate has been issued. Additionally, Romanians living abroad will be able to adopt children older than two. ( Evenimentul Zilei ) 

Economic News 

Ford starts hiring 

Jan Gijsen of Ford Romania announced that next week Ford will begin hiring 500 people, mainly for assembly lines. In 2012, Ford will manufacture 60,000 B-Max cars. ( Ziarul financiar ) 

http://www.zf.ro/auto/americanii-accelereaza-in-sfarsit-ford-s-a-hotarat-sa-angajeze-500-de-muncitori-la-craiova-9419366 

PM appoints Ion Coita Transportation Ministry State Secretary 

PM Ungureanu appointed Alexandru Ion Coita, Chamber of Deputies’ permanent representative to the European Parliament and former counselor for foreign relations to Roberta Anastase, as Secretary of State in the Ministry of Transportation. (Mediafax) 

http://www.mediafax.ro/politic/ion-coita-fost-consilier-pe-probleme-externe-al-robertei-anastase-secretar-de-stat-la-transporturi-9419574/ 

Transportation Minister interview on B1TV 

On B1TV , Transportation Minister Alexandru Nazare said the A2 motorway (Bucharest-Constanta) will be finalized by June 30, while the current deadline for Bucharest-Ploiesti is May 15. The Baneasa airport will be expanded, not closed, with low-cost flights moved to the Otopeni airport. Tarom airline has losses and will be listed on the stock exchange by May 15. The Bucharest-Danube Canal may be financed from EU funds. The feasibility plan for the canal exceeds one billion euro and has multiple parts: transport, energy, agriculture and tourism. It will be executed within four years. (Hotnews) 

http://revistapresei.hotnews.ro/stiri-radio_tv-11796119-daniel-nazare-b1-nu-avem-autostrazi-pentru-nu-creat-portofoliu-proiecte.htm 

Key media: 

Agerpres – Romanian national wire service 

Adevarul – national daily owned by oligarch Dinu Patriciu (close to the PNL party) 

Antena 1 & 3 – private TV channels owned by oligarch and Senate Vice President Dan Voiculescu (PC party) 

B1TV – private general channel owned by businessman Bobby Paunescu (no party affiliation) 

Curentul – national daily owned by businessman Mihai Iacob (supports President Basescu) 

Evenimentul Zilei – national daily owned by businessman Bobby Paunescu (no party affiliation) 

Gandul – national daily owned by Media Pro (controlled by Amcit Ron Lauder’s Central Media Enterprises) 

Hotnews – independent online news publication 

Jurnalul National – national daily owned by oligarch and Senate Vice President Dan Voiculescu (PC party) 

Mediafax – private wire service owned by Media Pro (controlled by Amcit Ron Lauder’s Central Media Enterprises) 

NewsIn – private wire service owned by oligarch Sorin Ovidiu Vantu (close to the PSD party) 

Romania libera – national daily owned by businessman Dan Adamescu (no party affiliation) 

Pro TV – private general channel owned by Media Pro (controlled by Amcit Ron Lauder’s Central Media Enterprises) 

Radio Romania – Romanian national public radio 

Realitatea TV – private all-news channel owned by oligarch Sorin Ovidiu Vantu (close to the PSD party) 

TVR – Romanian national public television 

Ziare.com – independent online news platform 

Ziarul Financiar – private business daily published by Media Pro (controlled by Amcit Ron Lauder’s Central Media Enterprises) 

“The Daily News Summary is a compilation of stories running in the Romanian press that is intended to alert Embassy Bucharest and other USG officials about items of interest to them in their official capacity. There is no verification of the facts contained therein." 

Kenneth M. Wetzel 

Press Officer 

U.S. Embassy Bucharest 

Office: 021-200-3718 

BB: 0723-344-039 

SBU 
This email is UNCLASSIFIED. 

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