AgerpresBuletin 25928

201701-18
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NEWS OF THE DAY
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Senate President on pardon: There is no political discussion in Parliame nt, which can
however decide in this matter
Bucharest, Jan 18 /Agerpres/ - Senate President Calin Popescu Tariceanu said that in
Parliament, for now, there is no political discussion on pardon, but the Legislature is entirely entitled
to discuss and decide including in this respect.
"At present, there is no consistent, aggregated, political discussion in Parliament, but I believe
that Parliament, as a democratic legislative body, is entirely entitled to discuss and decide including in
this respect. We can eventually, if Parliament doesn't assume this role by itself, because it doesn't
have all necessary analysis instruments, do this thing together with the Government, namely with the
Justice Ministry," Tariceanu said on Antena 3 private television broadcaster on Tuesday evening.
He showed that in penitentiaries there are humiliating conditions.
"We cannot break their dignity, we cannot mock these people. Because they have done
wrong, they are deprived of liberty, but we mustn't punish them in addition (...). The society must still
think about these people and not condemn them several times for the same thing. We must discuss
this calmly and responsibly," Tariceanu explained, who maintains that the discussion on pardon
"should not generate panic."
The Senate President mentioned that pardons have taken place over time.
"It is an instrument that is periodically used. It was used in Antiquity, and in Modern times. In
the communist period there was also pardon. After 1990 there were pardons, amnesties - in 1998,
during the Democratic Convention Government, and in 2002, during the time when the Social
Democratic Party was at rule. The sky didn't break. On the contrary, these are measures periodically
taken both for humanitarian reasons and for penitentiary occupancy reasons," Tariceanu added.
AGERPRES
ID: 4793659; Data: 2017-01-18 08:56:28; Redactori: paa/paa
Tennis: Tecau and Mergea, through to second round of Australian Open men's doubles
Bucharest, Jan 18 /Agerpres/ - Romanian tennis players Horia Tecau and Florin Mergea, in
different pairings, qualified in Melbourne on Wednesday for the second round of the Australian Open
men's doubles, the first Gland Slam tournament of the year.
Tecau and Dutch Jean-Julien Rojer, 9th seeded, defeated 7-6 (5), 7-6 (3) the couple Philipp
Petzschner (Germany)/ Mikhail Youzhny (Russia), in one hour and 41 minutes.
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The next adversaries of the Romanian-Dutch pairing will be the winners between Dutch
Wesley Koolhof/Matwe Middelkoop and South-Americans Julio Peralta (Chile)/Horacio Zeballos
(Argentina).
Last year, Tecau and Rojer reached the quarterfinals in Melbourne.
Mergea and Brit Dominic Inglot won by 6-2, 7-5 to Australians Luke Saville/Jordan
Thompson, after one hour and 19 minutes.
In the 2016 edition, Mergea and his then partner, Indian Rohan Bopanna, stopped in the round
of 16.
Mergea and Inglot will play in the second round against the winners of the match opposing
French Julien Benneteau/Jeremy Chardy and couple Mariusz Fyrstenberg (Polanda)/Martin Klizan
(Slovakia).
The first round winning pairs secured 90 ATP points and 23,000 Australian dollars each.
AGERPRES
Iohannis: New parliamentary majority must prove maturity on national security and
justice laws
Bucharest, Jan 17 /Agerpres/ - President Klaus Iohannis states that the new parliamentary
majority must prove maturity in addressing the legislation in the area of national security and justice.
"We have a new majority in Parliament. This new majority has, obviously, a very important
role: the decisive role in the way to address these aspects connected to national security. I think this
majority will have to prove in this area, national security, and the other one much more discussed and
much rumored in the last days, amnesty and pardon. This new majority will have to prove whether it
is mature or it has work to do. Measure of maturity for the new parliamentary majority will be the
way to address legislation in the area of national security, including intelligence services and justice
law, particularly a possible legislative approach like amnesty and pardon," Klaus Iohannis stated on
Tuesday at the Cotroceni Palace.
The head of state specified that the new majority did nothing for now regarding the topics
mentioned by him.
"We do not know yet what kind of majority we have. For now, the new majority did nothing.
They have imposed some heads for committees, have voted some populist promises of the campaign.
But this was easy. Will we have a majority who will impose the law of majority, irrespective of what
is discussed, that will want to prove that it leads the games in the Parliament, will want to whiten the
cases of the incriminated?! Or will we have a mature majority, that understands that Romania is only
one and which will come close to the President so that, together, to guarantee the national security,
rule of law, and together to prove that Romania is safe for its citizens and is a strong nation in the
choir of other nations?! I want the second version, a mature majority. I am waiting for it," Iohannis
stated. AGERPRES
ID: 4793706; Data: 2017-01-18 09:20:04; Redactori: kan/paa
DNA's Kovesi: Emergency Ordinance regarding decriminalization of abuse of office

would take effect imme diately
Bucharest, Jan 18 /Agerpres/ - In the situation in which the decriminalization of the abuse of
office were made through an emergency ordinance, it would take effect immediately, Chief
Prosecutor of the National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA) Laura Codruta Kovesi mentioned on
Tuesday.
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The statement was made in the context in which several pieces of information appeared in the
press regarding the Government's intention to adopt, in the meeting on Wednesday, an emergency
ordinance regarding the pardoning of some sentences and the decriminalization of some offenses.
"The problem lies at the emergency ordinance, because it will take effect immediately. Even
if one didn't motivate well enough the emergency and there is a risk that the Constitutional Court will
come after two or three months to declare the ordinance unconstitutional, it will take effect. If a
decriminalization or an amnesty ordinance were to be enforced, even for an hour, all these
consequences will occur," Kovesi stated on the Digi 24 private television station.
She assessed that such a measure would be an unfair one for the society, because it would
make impossible the recovery of the damages from the abuse of office cases.
"It's the type of decision which makes an injustice to society, because in that situation it (the
society - e.n.) cannot recover the damages. All the cases in which we have people sent to court for
these offenses will cease or be acquitted (...), the cases for which there is an ongoing investigation (...)
will be automatically closed, dismissal solutions will be given, but the most serious effect and the one
which affects the society is that all the damages caused to the state will remain unrecovered. (...) In
the situation in which such a law will come into force for a couple of days, it will take effect from the
perspective of a more favorable criminal law and all these consequences will happen," Kovesi added.
The DNA Chief expressed her hope that Justice Minister Florin Iordache will observe his
public commitment to not promote any draft law regarding the judicial system before consulting with
the Superior Council of Magistracy (CSM).
"During the discussion I had with the Justice Minister (...) he promised and stated in the
public space as well, that he won't make any amendment before consulting with the judicial system,
before consulting with the Superior Council of Magistracy. The Emergency Ordinance targets the
amnesty, the pardoning of some acts, the decriminalization of some acts that must have the approval
of the CSM. The majority of the members who run for the CSM have expressed their intention (...) to
have an active role, in respect to making amendments to laws that affect the justice and which the
justice works with. Therefore, I expect the Justice Minister to sent it for consultation before
promoting such a document. It is very strange to have on the meeting's agenda, if such information is
true, a draft law which was never debated inside the system and which can seriously affect the judicial
system. If we were to speak, at fist sight, about the offenses of abuse of office (...), 30 percent from
the DNA's activity aims to investigate the criminal acts regarding the abuse of office," Laura Codruta
Kovesi also stated. AGERPRES
ID: 4793742; Data: 2017-01-18 09:33:28; Redactori: rod/paa
President Iohannis goes to Victoria Palace (sources)

Bucharest, Jan 18 /Agerpres/ - President Klaus Iohannis goes on Wednesday to Victoria
Palace, official sources have specified for AGERPRES.
A Government sitting was scheduled at 9:30. AGERPRES
President Iohannis arrives at Victoria Palace

Bucharest, Jan 18 /Agerpres/ - President Klaus Iohannis arrived on Wednesday at Victoria
Palace, the head of state will lead the Executive's sitting.
The Government weekly sitting was scheduled at 9:30. AGERPRES
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A2 highway Bucharest-Constanta, A4 highway Ovidiu-Agigea and othe r 12 national

roads closed on Wednesday morning
Bucharest, Jan 18 /Agerpres/ - The A2 highway Bucharest - Constanta and the A4 highway
Ovidiu - Agigea, as well as other 12 national roads are closed on Wednesday morning, because of the
bad weather conditions, intense blizzard and zero visibility respectively, according to a release of the
National Company for Road Infrastructure Administration (CNAIR) sent to AGERPRES.
The following roads are closed: DN 21A (Baraganu - Tandarei), DN 22 (Mihai Viteazu Pasaj Lumina), DN 2A (Harsova - Mihail Kogalniceanu), DN 2C (Costesti - Slobozia), DN 3
(Branesti - Chiciu), DN 31 (Cuza Voda - Oltenita), DN 3A (Lehliu Gara - Fetesti), DN 4 (Bucharest Oltenita), DN 41 (Oltenita - Daia), DN 5A (Adunatii Copaceni - Greaca), DN 5B (Giurgiu Ghimpati) and DN 61 (Ghimpati - Crevedia).
Moreover, on the DN 5 road, between Adunatii Copaceni and Giurgiu, a tonnage restriction
was instituted for vehicles with a GVW higher than 7.7 tones.
Additional information regarding the national road network status can be obtained from the
Dispatch of the CNAIR, by phone 021/264.33.33; 021/9360, accessing the company's website or their
Facebook and Twitter pages. AGERPRES
Scheduled events for Wednesday, January 18, 2017

PRESIDENCY:
- President Klaus Iohannis hold annual meeting with chiefs of diplomatic missions a nd
representatives of international organisations in Romania
- President Klaus Iohannis decorates President of the Federation of Jewish Communities of
Romania Aurel Vainer
GOVERNMENT:
- Government meeting
DIPLOMACY:
- Secretary of State George Ciamba participates in plenary session of Forum for Security Cooperation, within the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Vienna
ECONOMY:
- National Institute of Statistics (INS) releases data on crude oil imports and exports in first 11
months of 2016
English News Desk
Editor-in-chief: Razvan-Adrian Pandea (pra)
Telephone: +40212076171 / +40212076262
Email: emisie@agerpres.ro
www.agerpres. AGERPRES
Tennis: Sorana Cirstea qualifies for third round at Australian Open

Bucharest, Jan 18 /Agerpres/ - Romanian tennis player Sorana Cirstea qualified on
Wednesday in Melbourne for the third round of the Australian Open tournament, the first Grand Slam
of the year, after she unexpectedly defeated Carla Suarez Navarro (Spain) - 10th seed, with a score of
7-6 (1), 6-3. AGERPRES
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Iohannis at Gov't meeting: I discussed with the PM; I am pleased with how you do your
job
Bucharest, Jan 18 /Agerpres/ President Klaus Iohannis said on Wednesday he had, before the
Government meeting, a "very applied" discussion with Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu, and the head
of state told the Government members that he is very pleased with how they do their job.
"I have decided this morning to pay a visit to Mr Prime Minister. We had a very applied,
serious talk, with consensual conclusions, after which Mr Prime Minister invited me to participate and
preside this meeting," Iohannis said. AGERPRES
UPDATE/Iohannis at Gov't meeting: I discussed with the PM; I am pleased with how
you do your job
Bucharest, Jan 18 /Agerpres/ - President Klaus Iohannis said on Wednesday he had, before
the Government meeting, a "very applied" discussion with Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu, and the
head of state told the Government members that he is very pleased with how they do their job.
"We have a first today. It is the first time I participate in a Government meeting. I have
decided this morning to pay a visit to Mr Prime Minister. We had a very applied, serious talk, with
consensual conclusions, after which Mr Prime Minister invited me to participate and preside this
Government meeting," Iohannis said in the beginning of the Government meeting.
He said that it is "a pleasure and an honour" to be in the meeting together with the
Government members.
"Allow me to tell you I am very pleased with the manner in which you all do your job and to
me it is not only a pleasure, but also an honour to be here with you. In respect to the conclusions of
the discussion I had with Mr Prime Minister earlier, I would like to let him detail these things," the
head of state added. AGERPRES
CFR Calatori canceled 35 Regio trains in South and South-East of country, because of
blizzard
Bucharest, Jan 18 /Agerpres/ - CFR Calatori (Romanian National Railway Company)
canceled 35 Regio trains that were supposed to circulate in Constanta, Ialomita, Olt and Calarasi
counties, due to the snowfalls and blizzard, nonetheless, passengers have other options of trains that
circulate on the same routes, according to the information published on the company's Facebook page.
"At this hour there are neither closed lines, nor blocked trains, the traffic thus was adapted to
the unfavorable weather conditions, in the South and South-East of country there was signaled a
strong wind intensification. On the routes Urziceni-Slobozia, Alexandria - Zimnicea, Rosiori EstTurnu Msgurele, Caracal-Corabia, Ciulnita-Calarasi, Constanta-Mangalia, Medgidia-Tulcea Oras,
Ciulnita-Calarasi, Constanta-Mangalia, Medgidia-Tulcea, Slobozia Veche - Urziceni and Caracal Corabia only Diesel locomotives circulate, reason for which some trains might register delays", CFR
Calatori specifies.
Passengers who have tickets or passes to the blocked trains and want to drop the trip will get,
by request, the equivalent value of it.
In this context, CFR SA, the administrator of the railway infrastructure, intervenes at this hour
with ploughs for snow removal within 5 intervals of the stations in the South-East of the country, so
that the train traffic to move on in safe conditions. At this hour the temperatures registered at the rail
level were between -13 and -3 C degrees, in some counties from the South and South-East of the
country the wind intensified up to 70 km/h.
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CFR SA mentions that the permanent connection with all the Operators of Rail Passenger and
Freight (OTF) so that, in accordance with the developments of weather, the railway traffic to be
ensured on all the railway routes. In the situation in which there are necessary changes of schedule, all
the operators of passenger rail transport are notified, so that they can publish on their websites the
updated information of the trains enlisted in the schedule.
Passengers are asked to constantly check the websites of operators of passenger rail transport
for the updated information on the trains enlisted in the circulation or about the canceled trains.
AGERPRES
Iohannis at Gove rnment: There are two elephants in the room, pardon ordinance and
code amendme nt
Bucharest, Jan 18 /Agerpres/ - President Klaus Iohannis told the Ministers on Wednesday, in
the opening of Government meeting that he chairs, that "there are two elephants in the room" - the
pardon ordinance and that on amending the criminal codes.
"You know the story of an elephant in the room, but he is invisible. There are two elephants the pardon ordinance and that on amending the criminal codes. Obviously that we have also talked
about these with Mr Prime Minister earlier in the morning, but he told me that the discussion had
already taken place with some colleagues of the Government and these two aspects regarding the
pardon ordinance and that on amending the criminal codes will not be put on the additional agenda ",
Iohannis stated.
He has specified that the Prime Minister made the commitment for these two normative acts
not to be tucked "over night" in none of the Government meetings. AGERPRES
PM Grindeanu: Gove rnment meeting agenda includes budget construction drafts and
resolution to declare Jan 23 holiday
Bucharest, Jan 18 /Agerpres/ - Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu the Wednesday Government
meeting will debate on normative acts on the agenda, among which the Government Emergency
Ordinance on elements connected to the budget construction, as well the Government resolution to
declare January 23 holiday.
The Executive's Wednesday meeting is chaired by Klaus Iohannis. AGERPRES
UPDATE/Iohannis at Government: The re are two elephants in the room, pardon

ordinance and code amendment
Bucharest, Jan 18 /Agerpres/ - President Klaus Iohannis told the Ministers on Wednesday, in
the opening of Government meeting that he chairs, that "there are two elephants in the room" - the
pardon ordinance and that on amending the criminal codes.
"You know the story of an elephant in the room, but it is invisible. There are two elephants the pardon ordinance and that on amending the criminal codes. Obviously that we have also talked
about these with Mr Prime Minister earlier in the morning, but he told me that the discussion had
already taken place with some colleagues of the Government and these two aspects regarding the
pardon ordinance and that on amending the criminal codes will not be put on the additional agenda",
Iohannis stated.
He has specified that the Prime Minister made the commitment for these two normative acts
not to be tucked "over night" in none of the Government meetings.
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"He made (Prime Minister - e.n.) the commitment for these two normative acts not to be
tucked "over night" in none of the Government meetings, but immediately after the documents will be
clarified, obviously, under the leadership of the Justice Minister, Mrs Interior Minister, and Mrs
Minister delegate for European Affairs to be placed in transparency, namely clearer, to be handed for
consultation to all the entities provided by the law: the Superior Council of Magistracy, professional
organizations, judges organizations, and, of course, the public opinion", the President stated.
According to him, it is "mandatory" that these procedures be respected.
"Before arriving to the Government, Mr Prime Minister has analyzed with maximum
responsibility these matters and so it was possible that in 20 minutes or as long as we sat together to
reach a consensus, because together and, obviously, all the members of the Government want to
consolidate the rule of law and then an important part is observing the norms and, not the least,
respecting Romanians and the civil society which, all of us, I ensure you, are very interested about
these cases", the head of state added. AGERPRES
Government Agent Radu meets EC Deputy Secretary General

Bucharest, Jan 18 /Agerpres/ - Government Agent for the Court of Justice of the European
Union Razvan-Horatiu Radu had a meeting with Deputy Secretary General of the European
Commission Jean-Eric Paquet, in Brussels, a release of the Foreign Affairs Ministry (MAE) sent to
AGERPRES on Wednesday informs.
Within the meeting the Deputy Secretary General of the European Commission confirmed the
progresses in the field recorded by Romania over the last year, underlining that the statistics illustrate
the visible efforts made by the Romanian authorities in respect to observing the European Union law.
The Government Agent highlighted the constant concern of the Romanian authorities in
respect to observing the commitments deriving from the EU law, context in which the timely
transposition is aimed, as well as the correct enforcement of the EU legislation.
The EU official hailed the good collaboration between the Commission and the Romanian
authorities, both within the EU Pilot (pre-infringement) system, as well as in respect to the
management of infringement cases, the quoted source reveals.
In respect to European Commission's communication titled: "Better results through better
application", adopted on 13 December 2016, both sides agreed the fact that this marks a new approach
of the Commission regarding the actions which establish the infringement of the communication
obligation regarding the national measures for transposing the EU directives, strengthening a
sanctioning system with the purpose of determining the timely transposition of the EU directives.
The EC Deputy Secretary General discussed about the possibility of organizing in Bucharest a
package-meeting regarding the actions to take in establishing the infringements of ongoing
obligations. Such a meeting was presented as an occasion to establish contacts with the authorities in
charge on the highest level, in order to identify some solutions of appropriate compliance and possible
difficulties. The Government Agent showed availability for organizing such meeting, in the context of
celebrating ten years since Romania acceded to the EU.
Moreover, on Monday and Tuesday meetings took place with representatives of different
General Directorates within the European Commission - Environment, Financial Stability, Financial
Services and Capital Markets Union, Energy - context in which issues were discussed that are
connected to the management of infringement cases launched against Romania.
At the date of Romania's accession to the EU, a number of 551 infringement procedures were
launched against Romania. A number of 488 were dismissed by the European Commission in the pretrial stage, five of them were radiated by the EU Court of Justice and two of them were solved by this
court. A number of 56 infringement procedures are ongoing, all of them in the pre-trial stage.
AGERPRES
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PG: Promoting pardon and amnesty without transparency would prove state weakness
to crime
Bucharest, Jan 18 /Agerpres/ - The General Prosecutor's Office maintains that promoting
some clemency acts such as pardon and amnesty, without transparency and without consulting the
Superior Council of Magistrates, would prove lack of will and state authorities' weakness to crime.
The General Prosecutor's Office on Wednesday issued a press release voicing its opinion on
the debates in the public space referring to adopting some legislative amendments on pardon and
amnesty.
"The priority of the Prosecutor's Office attached to the High Court of Cassation and Justice at
the moment is represented by the consolidation of the institutional capacity in the fight against crime
in general and corruption and conflict of interest in particular. In this context, the promotion of some
clemency acts such as pardon and amnesty, without transparency and a previous consultation of the
Superior Council of Magistrates, as provided by the law in force, would not only be contradicting the
objectives of the Public Ministry, but it would also prove lack of will and the weakness of the state
authorities to crime," the General Prosecutor's Office says. AGERPRES
UPDATE/PM Grindeanu: Gov't meeting agenda - budget construction drafts and

resolution to declare Jan 23 holiday
Bucharest, Jan 18 /Agerpres/ - Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu the Wednesday Government
meeting will debate on normative acts on the agenda, among which the Government Emergency
Ordinance on elements connected to the budget construction, as well the Government resolution to
declare January 23 holiday.
"We have an agenda that was published, it is the agenda which each of you have in your
folder, to dismiss any other talk we saw appearing in the public space. As I have informed Mr
President in the discussion we had, we talk about things that are on the agenda. That means that, also
according to the constitutional provisions and attributions the Government has, in the next period all
the things that we are planning to do, we and Parliament, we can adopt in the Government meetings",
Sorin Grindeanu stated when addressing to the members of the Executive.
The Prime Minister underscored that all that is on the agenda of the Government meeting will
be discussed "point by point".
"In general there are things connected to the budget construction drafts, the budget law,
adopting some ordinances and Government resolutions. Furthermore, there is a Government
resolution to declare January 23 holiday, to make a connection with 24 (January - e.n.)", Grindeanu
specified.
The Prime Minister pointed out, addressing the Finance Minister, that beyond the holidays the
budget draft must be ready by the deadline previously announced.
"Mr Finance Minister, I would ask you that in this period, beyond what means holidays, as we
have committed, we send the budget draft to Parliament", Grindeanu said.
The Government meeting on Wednesday is chaired by the head of state, Klaus Iohannis.
AGERPRES
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ANOFM: Romania unemployment rate at November-end stands at 4.75 pe rcent

Bucharest, Jan 18 /Agerpres/ - The unemployment rate on a nationwide level, at the end of
November 2016 was 4.75 percent, lower by 0.01 percentage points compared to the one in October
2016 and lower by 0.13 percentage points compared to the one in November 2015, the National
Employment Agency (ANOFM) data published on Wednesday reveals.
Out of the total number of 414,673 unemployed who were registered in the territorial agency's
records a number of 84,075 persons received unemployment benefit.
Furthermore, the ANOFM data reveal that in November 2016 compared to the previous
month, the male unemployment rate remained at the same value as in the previous month and the
female unemployment rate declined from 4.36 percent in October to 4.33 percent.
Depending on the residence area, a number of 121,854 unemployed were form urban areas
and 294,819 from rural areas. The most unemployed were aged between 40 - 49 years old (115,357
persons), followed by the persons aged between 30 - 39 years old (84,414), while at the opposite were
the persons aged between 25 - 29 years old (34.327).
The unemployed without studies and the ones who have primary, secondary and vocational
level of studies had the higher weight of the total unemployment registered in the ANOFM (79.66
percent) records, while the unemployed who have high school and post-high school level of studies
represented 16.09 percent and the ones with academic studies stood at 4.24 percent. AGERPRES
JusMin: MJ completed draft law on pardon for certain offenses

Bucharest, Jan 18 /Agerpres/ - The Justice Ministry completed on Tuesday two normative
acts - one aimed at pardon for certain offenses and another taking into account the Constitutional
Court of Romania (CCR) decisions in the area, Justice Minister Florin Iordache said.
He pointed out, in a press conference at Victoria Palace, that the normative acts were sent
Wednesday morning for consultation to all institutions and professional associations in the area.
According to him, on Wednesday, these drafts are going to be posted on the Justice Ministry
(MJ) website. AGERPRES
PM Grindeanu: I'll leave for US a little before 13:00 hrs

Bucharest, Jan 18 /Agerpres/ - Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu announced on Wednesday
that he will leave for the United States of America "a little before 13:00 hrs".
The PM made the announcement at the Victoria Palace at the end of the Government meeting.
Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu will go, alongside Speaker of the Deputies' Chamber Liviu
Dragnea, at the swearing-in ceremony of the new President of the USA, Donald Trump. AGERPRES
JusMin Iordache: Romania must give a pardon law; aprox. 2,500 persons can benefit
from it
Bucharest, Jan 18 /Agerpres/ - Romania must give a pardon law which approximately 2,500
persons could benefit from, Justice Minister Florin Iordache stated on Wednesday.
He pointed out that this law will not be aimed at serious cases like corruption or money
laundering.
According to Iordache, the occupancy level in prisons at this moment is over 150pct.
AGERPRES
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President Iohannis: Romania's foreign and security policy will remain on same essential
coordinates
Bucharest, Jan 18 /Agerpres/ - Romania's foreign and security policy will remain on the same
essential coordinates as until now, in the context in which our country must keep its regional position
of stability and predictability pillar, President Klaus Iohannis said in the opening of the meeting with
the foreign ambassadors accredited in Bucharest, taking place at the Cotroceni Palace in Bucharest.
"I want to assure you that Romania's foreign and security policy will remain on the same
essential coordinates as until now. Romania must maintain itself in the region as a stability and
predictability pillar," the head of state underscored.
President Iohannis brought to mind that Romania has a new Parliament and Government,
resulted following the December 2016 elections. The head of state pointed out that the elections
unfolded in the best conditions from a democratic and organisation point of view. More over, the
President highlighted as positive the fact that no extremist party entered Parliament, which eloquently
proves the maturity of the Romanian society.
Klaus Iohannis pointed out that in Romania the rule of law must be further strengthened and
the economic stability must be kept, and in this respect the Government has a "special responsibility."
AGERPRES
Grindeanu: Does Constitution allow pardon and amnesty? Yes, therefore they don't
contradict law
Bucharest, Jan 18 /Agerpres/ - Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu on Wednesday said that in
the Government meeting "the things communicated in due time" were discussed, pointing out that,
according to the Constitution, "we are allowed to grant pardon and amnesty," therefore these things
"aren't against the law."
However, the added that these topics weren't discussed "regardless of President Iohannis'
presence," as they weren't on the meeting agenda.
"According to the Constitution, are we allowed to grant pardon and amnesty? Does the
Constitution say we are allowed (...) to do this? yes. Therefore they aren't against the law. (...) I
believe that it is as constitutional as President Klaus Iohannis came to chair the Government meeting,
it is as constitutional, with the observance of the law, to issue an emergency ordinance in all the areas
the law allows us to. As it wasn't on the agenda communicated from time to you (...) which we had
yesterday in the working folder, we couldn't adopt matters on addit ional points," the PM told
journalists.
He pointed out that neither the conflict of interest nor the abuse of office will be
decriminalized, but "these things will be clarified from the perspective of the Justice Ministry, in
accordance with the Constitutional Court decisions."
"Any decision of the Constitutional Court is mandatory. We cannot pretend we don't have it.
This clarification which the Justice Ministry is making now and sending to public debate is the Justice
Ministry's perspective," Grindeanu said.
The PM explained that it concerns two proposals of the Justice Ministry - one regarding
pardon, "which doesn't include corruption offenses and violence or organised crime offenses," and the
other one - the transposition of a European directive on the citizens' rights to a fair trial.
The Prime Minister maintained that the discussion he had with Klaus Iohannis wasn't related
to pardon and the modification of the criminal codes, but that it was only a question of the head of
state referring this topic.
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"The discussion [with Klaus Iohannis] wasn't regarding what you are saying. It was a question
of the President if these drafts are on the agenda. I assured him that these drafts are not on the agenda
and that all things I have mentioned earlier will be covered, namely (...) these proposals of the Justice
Ministry were sent this morning to the Superior Council of Magistrates and all the other institutions,"
the PM told journalists.
Referring to pardon and the amendment of the codes, he pointed out that these things can be
done either by emergency ordinance or in Parliament.
"There are these two possibilities provided by law. The Justice Minister has told since the
beginning the point of view on Justice. It is a first step, it is a proposal. At the moment we are going
towards (...) consulting the other institutions and not only, and then we'll see what decision we shall
make," Sorin Grindeanu said. AGERPRES
PM Grindeanu: Gove rnment approved "First rent" program

Bucharest, Jan 18 /Agerpres/ - Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu announced that the Executive
approved, in the meeting on Wednesday, through an emergency ordinance, a measure assumed by the
ruling coalition and namely the "First rent" program.
"We have adopted normative acts which are extremely important for us, for the governing
program that we are going to put into practice. (...) The first point on the agenda was an emergency
ordinance which regulates a point to which we engaged as well, namely "First rent". Last week, we
had in the first reading this emergency ordinance", Sorin Grindeanu stated in a press conference at the
Victoria Palace.
According to a press release of the Executive, in the sight of launching the "First rent"
program, the Government has changed and completed by an emergency ordinance (OUG) Law no.
76/2002 the system of insurance for unemployment and strengthening the labor market, aiming to
encourage labor for the unemployed.
"Thus, a relocation bonus is given to the persons registered as unemployed at the employment
agencies who start a job, according to the law, in another city, situated on a distance over 50 km
compared to the city of domicile or residence, and as a consequence of this fact the person changes
the domicile or changes the residence in the respective city or in the cities neighboring it. The
relocation bonus is given from the insurance budget for unemployment and is equal with 75pct from
the amount addressed to living costs (payment for rent and utilities) in the new domicile or residence,
but not more than RON 900", the press release specifies.
According to the cited source, the relocation bonus is given to persons whose net monthly
income does not exceed the amount RON 5,000/month, in the situation in which the person is single
or together with the family, and who has a job for a period of at least 12 months.
"The relocation bonus is given monthly, over a period of 36 months. The relocation bonus is
given by request and is not cumulated with the job starting bonus or setting-up bonus, provided in the
legislation", the Government informs. AGERPRES
Actor Ion Besoiu has passed away

Bucharest, Jan 18 /Agerpres/ - Actor Ion Besoiu has passed away on Wednesday at the age
of 86 years.
The information was confirmed for AGERPRES by representatives of the Theatre Union of
Romania (UNITER). AGERPRES
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M&A market estimated to 3.4-4 billion Euros in 2016;possible mega-transactions in

financial-services and energy areas in 2017
Bucharest, Jan 18 /Agerpres/ - Romania's mergers and acquisition market is estimated to 3.4
- 4 billion Euros in 2016, increasing by 23 percent, from approximately 2.7 billion Euros in the
previous year, Financial Advisory Partner with Deloitte Romania Ioana Filipescu stated on
Wednesday.
"The year 2016 was exceptionally good in the Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) market, both
from the volume point of view - between 3.4 and 4 billion Euros, but as well in respect to the number
of transactions, the average value of a transaction and the number of large transactions. The end of the
year was decisive in the market's development," Ioana Filipescu explained.
According to the company's data, in Romania, in 2016, a number of 85 transactions were
carried out of over 5 million Euros and three mega-transactions of over 500 million Euros. The
average value of a transaction was 43 million Euros.
In different areas, given the overall volume, the most important transactions were carried out
in the Fast-moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) worth 856 million Euros, followed by oil and gas, with
total transactions of 595 million Euros and retail with 533 million Euros.
According to Ioana Filipescu, the domestic market is very weak, and the transactions are
watching the foreign direct investments curve.
For 2017 the Deloitte representatives are expecting a M&A market of approximately 3 billion
Euros, by reducing the number of mega-transactions. This year we could witness mega-transactions in
the financial services area or in the energy area, Ioana Filipescu believes. AGERPRES
Iohannis: Our foreign policy pillars remain partnership with US, and EU and NATO
consolidation
Bucharest, Jan 18 /Agerpres/ - President Klaus Iohannis stated on Wednesday that the
fundamental pillars of Romania's foreign policy remain deepening the Partnership with the United
States of America and consolidation with the EU and NATO.
"The fundamental pillars of ours foreign policy remain deepening the Partnership with the
United States of America and consolidation with the EU and NATO. Therefore, I am confident that
the Romanian-American Strategic Partnership, which this year turns 20 years since its launching, will
continue to develop and to deepen. The new American administration is installed these days at the
White House. (...) Numerous contacts, including on high level, which we had after the elections of
November in the US, have reconfirmed the clear and firm engagement of the US for the partnership
with Romania", Iohannis stated at the Cotroceni Palace, at the annual meeting with the heads of
diplomatic missions accredited in Bucharest and representations of international organizations in
Romania. AGERPRES
PM Grindeanu:Buget limits for each ministry approved, deficit under 3 percent and 2
percent for Defence
Bucharest, Jan 18 /Agerpres/ - Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu announced on Wednesday, at
the end of the Government meeting that the budget limits for each ministry were approved, keeping
the deficit below 3 percent and allocating 2 percent from the GDP to Defence.
"Things were discussed with each ministry, the budget limits were approved for each
ministry, keeping what we have stated the entire time - the deficit below 3 percent and 2 percent for
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Defence. There are things that represent Romania's commitments and we will hold on to them,"
Grindeanu stated.
He brought to mind that the Executive intends to send the draft law of the state budget to
Parliament around 25 January.
"On the meeting agenda we had bills that regulate the limits within which each ministry is to
keep within, in order to maintain and to adopt (...) next week the Budget Law. These days, the
Minister of Public Finance, together with me and Deputy Prime Minister Sevil Shhaideh have
discussed with each ministry, so that we conclude the Budget Law until next week," the Prime
Minister added. AGERPRES
GEO draft: Full pardon for sentences up to 5 years of prison

Bucharest, Jan 18 /Agerpres/ - The emergency ordinance draft on pardoning some sentences,
which the Ministry of Justice released for public debate on Wednesday, provides that the sentences up
to 5 years of prison inclusively are fully pardoned, as well the fines' penalties applied by the court.
According to the quoted source, habitual offenders and those who committed a series of
crimes provided by the by the Criminal Code or other special law, enumerated in the draft, will not
benefit from pardon. AGERPRES
President Iohannis: Romania should further develop its European strategic

partners hips, bilate ral relations
Bucharest, Jan 18 /Agerpres/ - Romania should further develop its European strategic
partnerships and bilateral relations, it must stress on the economic dimension in its relations with
Central Asia, Middle East countries, while the ties with the states of Asia, Latin America and Africa
must be more actively promoted, President Klaus Iohannis said on Wednesday at the annual meeting
with the foreign ambassadors accredited in Bucharest.
Klaus Iohannis emphasised the importance of deepening strategic partnerships, relations with
Germany, France and Italy, which "have received a strong impulse following the visits to Bucharest in
2016 of my German, French and Italian counterparts. The commencement in November 2016 of the
mechanism of strategic dialogue with France, on Foreign and Defence minsters level, following my
proposal which was accepted by President Hollande, upon his state visit, is an example to be followed
on other bilateral coordinates, too."
"At the same time, the strategic partnership with Poland must be continued. The importance
of it in the field of ensuring security on regional level, as well as in regards to the European topics, the
ones where we have joint goals, is obvious. We should also polish the strategic partnership with
Turkey, an essential ally for the region's stability. We count on the ceaseless commitment of Turkey
to the values, principles and obligations taken within NATO and its relationship with the European
Union. In the regional context, the Romania - Poland - Turkey informal trilateral meeting on security
is a relevant format we should continue and develop further," said Iohannis.
The tight cooperation with the Baltic states, the concrete commitment to advocate the
European, Euro-Atlantic integration of the Western Balkans states should also be coordinates of the
Romanian diplomatic activity in 2017, said the president, adding that on the foreign affairs agenda
there will also be the development of the relationship with Ukraine, based on the very good results of
the visit paid in 2016 to Romania by President Petro Poroshenko. AGERPRES
ID: 4794659; Data: 2017-01-18 14:40:40; Redactori: mav/paa
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Euro trades at 4.5048 lei

Bucharest, Jan 18 /Agerpres/ - The exchange rate of the national leu currency resulting from
the quotations announced on Wednesday by the banks authorized to operate on the currency market is
as follows:
CURRENCY
SYMBOL
RON
1 Euro
EUR
4.4980
1 US dollar
USD
4.2098
1 Swiss franc
CHF
4.1982
1 British pound
GBP
5.1802
100 Japanese yen
JPY
3.7123
1 Moldovan leu
MDL
0.2084
1 Russian rouble
RUB
0.0711
1 new Turkish lira
TRY
1.1122
1 Chinese renminbi
CNY
0.6156
1 gram of gold
XAU
164.0436
1 SDR
XDR
5.7050
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
Strong wind cancels as many as 46 trains in southe rn Romania

Bucharest, Jan 18 /Agerpres/ - Railway traffic on Wednesday is taking place in conditions
adapted to current weather situation, no railway lines are shut, no trains are blocked, and yet as many
as 46 trains are canceled on certain routes due to the strong winds, says the updated information by
the CFR Passengers.
The 46 trains are canceled in the south and southeastern Romania, where the wind is getting
stronger, adds the CFR Passengers communique.
According to the release, the railway transport is currently ensured on all of the national
routes, except for those segments where the 46 trains are annulled.AGERPRES
ID: 4794755; Data: 2017-01-18 15:07:04; Redactori: mav/mav
UPDATE OUG draft: Full pardon for sentences up to 5 years of prison

Bucharest, Jan 18 /Agerpres/ - The emergency ordinance (OUG) draft on pardoning some
sentences, which the Ministry of Justice released for public debate on Wednesday, stipu lates that the
sentences up to 5 years of prison inclusively are fully pardoned, as well the fines' penalties applied by
the court.
According to the quoted source, habitual offenders and those who committed a series of
crimes provided by the Criminal Code or other special law, enumerated in the draft, will not benefit
from pardon.
"Will be fully pardoned the sentences up to 5 years of prison, as well as the fines' penalties
applied by the court. The provisions of paragraph (1) are applied regardless of the execution way of
the prison sentence ordered by the court ", stipulates the first article of the emergency ordinance draft .
The second article stipulates that the prison sentences of people who have reached 60 years,
of pregnant women or people who have dependent minors aged up to five years old will be partly
pardoned and reduced by half. People who after a medical examination are diagnosed with incurable
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illnesses in terminal stages will also benefit from halved sentences, or, depending on the case, have
the rest of their sentences annulled.
The third article stipulates that the provisions of the first two articles do not apply to
defendants convicted for crimes while being habitual offenders and to those who are usual offenders
through previous convictions, and pardoning "is conditioned by payment of the compensations to
which the sentenced person was ordered by final decision, within one year of release".
The same article of the draft law states that people who have committed a series of crimes as
provided by Criminal Code will not benefit from full pardoning of the sentences of up to five years in
prison. These include crimes against state security, murder, serious injury, blows causing death,
deprivation of liberty, violation of domicile, blackmail, sexual crimes, robbery, piracy or escape.
People convicted of crimes such as taking or giving bribery, traffic or buying of influence,
human trafficking, drug trafficking, trafficking in migrants or computer fraud are also denied
pardoning.
People convicted of several offenses covered by special laws, among which Law 78/2000 on
preventing, discovering and sanctioning of corruption acts, do not benefit from pardoning either.
The draft ordinance also stipulates that a pardon "does not apply to those who have not begun
serving the prison sentence because they had escaped from its enforcement, as well as those who
started the execution, but subsequently have eluded it."
At the same time, "people who are pardoned and within three years intentionally commit a
crime will execute, on top of the penalty established for that crime, the punishment or the remaining
unexecuted punishment, as a result of the application of the present law."AGERPRES
ID: 4794835; Data: 2017-01-18 15:37:25; Redactori: isc/mav
DNA's Kovesi: A matte r of time until former MP Sebastian Ghita gets caught
Bucharest, Jan 18 /Agerpres/ - The Chief Prosecutor of the National Anti-corruption
Directorate (DNA), Laura Codruta Kovesi declared on Wednesday that it is "a matter of time" until
the former Member of the Parliament, Deputy Sebastian Ghita gets caught, explaining that several
leads are being followed by DNA in that respect.
"I believe it to be a matter of time before Sebastian Ghita gets caught. At least we, at DNA,
are checking some information in that direction. We are waiting for the Romanian Police to get
involved, to allocate resources and make it a priority to catch this defendant. We will see whether he
has left the country or not. (...) We firstly rely on the national police of 190 states. Right now, the
defendant Sebastian Ghita is under international pursuit on t he territory of 190 states in the world,"
said Kovesi at the private radio broadcaster Europa FM.
A warrant in absence and a European warrant were issued on Sebastian Ghita's name after his
disappearance without a trace on December 21, 2016.AGERPRES
ANAF collected last year 99.8 pct of its overall targeted collection
Bucharest, Jan 18 /Agerpres/ - Vice-president of the National Agency of Fiscal
Administration (ANAF), Doru Dudas declared on Wednesday that the institution he is heading
collected last year 99.8 pct of its targets.
'
"The questions asked by the members of the committees were generally in
accordance with ANAF attributions regarding the achievement of the collection programme, through
the annual budget laws. We compared the level of the collection programme established for execution
at 7 months, 11 months and the end of the year, precisely to be able to draw a comparison between the
revenues scheduled in ANAF's charge and the revenues accomplished at the time of the initial law and
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the time of the two budget revisions," declared Dudas at Parliament's Palace, after his hearing in the
Budget Committees with the Senate and Deputies' Chamber.
He added that ANAF does not have the structures to carry out evaluations of budget revenues
to be considered when budget revisions are accomplished, this institution being just "a performer on
the collection side of the revenues in its charge."
"The ANAF collection was carried out, in overall sum, at the level of 199.4 billion lei," Dudas
added.AGERPRES
State secretary Ciamba opens Romanian Chairmanship of Forum for Security Co operation in Vienna
Bucharest, Jan 18 /Agerpres/ - Secretary of state with the Foreign Affairs Ministry (MAE),
George Ciamba on Wednesday inaugurated the Romanian Chairmanship of the Forum for Security
Co-operation (FSC) within the Organisation for Co-operation and Security in Europe (OSCE), in
Vienna, Austria, at the Hofburg Palace, the OSCE Seat, a MAE release sent to AGERPRES informs.
The FSC Romanian Chairmanship, a rotating responsibility every 19 years, is unfolding in an
important context for the Organisation, linked to the several security challenges among which the
crisis around Ukraine, the migrant phenomenon, the violent extremism and radicalisation, the
terrorism, to which add the permanent erosion of the instruments on the measures that target the
increase of trust and the control of the conventional weapons in Europe, the source adds.
Considering these security challenges, the Romanian Chairmanship decided to debate in the
four-month mandate topics connected to the regional security in the Balkans and the Black Sea
region, aspects that wish to implement the Resolution of the UN Security Council 1325 on women,
peace and security, and also larger aspects linked to the nuclear non-proliferation, the military cyber
security and the way of functioning of the instruments regarding the measures to increase trust and
security, such as the Vienna Document 2011, the MAE release specifies.
The Chairmanship is to be operated by ambassador Cristian Istrate, Permanent Reprezentative
of Romania to the international bodies in Vienna.AGERPRES
ID: 4794972; Data: 2017-01-18 16:28:06; Redactori: mav/mav
Romania presents itself as tourist destination at Matka - Nordic Travel Fair in Helsinki
Bucharest, Jan 18 /Agerpres/ - Romania will be present as a tourist destination, for the
second consecutive year, at the international fair Matka - Nordic Travel Fair that will take place
between January 19 to 22, 2017 in Helsinki, informs on Wednesday the Tourism Ministry.
Romania's stand will have a surface of 30 square meters where they will promote the tourist
offers of nine Romanian companies. At the same time, during the fair, Romanian wine tasting will be
organised at the stand.
Matka Tourism Fair is the most important manifestation of its kind in Finland, targeting
equally tourism specialists and the wide audience, and enjoying a growing popularity among them,
with the number of visitors reaching 80,000 annually, according to data provided by the organisers.
AGERPRES
ID: 4795004; Data: 2017-01-18 16:40:39; Redactori: isc/pra
Supreme Court's Tarcea on draft pardon ordinance: Looks to be dedicated

Bucharest, Jan 18 /Agerpres/ - The Supreme Court (High Court of Cassation and Justice,
ICCJ) President, Cristina Tarcea said on Wednesday that considering the talk in the public space on
the Emergency Ordinance (OUG) draft on pardon, it seems to be "dedicated."
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"If I take notice of all the talk in the public space, that is how it seems to be," specified
Cristina Tarcea at exiting the Superior Council of Magistracy (CSM) Hqs. when asked whether the
said draft OUG looks like being "dedicated."
Also asked why an emergency ordinance, what would be the rush, Tarcea replied: "This is
what I wish I knew myself. The Constitutional Court of Romania (CCR)'s decisions are not from last
week, some are from one year and a half. (...) The files already in the court of law will benefit from
these laws' decisions. I've asked myself what would happen if the contents of these emergency
ordinances will not be a perfect match with the parliamentary procedure, therefore what if they
change. This is not without importance, because it is about enforcing the criminal law the most
favourable. (...) Proper would be to go to the Parliament, through a draft law, much more proper and a
way more predictable, clearer legal solution."
Cristina Tarcea also said a specialist opinion should be necessary.
"Don't you find it normal to consider the specialists notice? Yes, I find it normal, it is an
advisory opinion, and yet an opinion given by law specialists. I doubt that the Government has a lot of
Law graduates," the ICCJ president concluded.AGERPRES
ID: 4795115; Data: 2017-01-18 17:23:14; Redactori: mav/pra
MAE deems statements of Moldovan President Dodon during visit in Moscow

inadequate
Bucharest, Jan 18 /Agerpres/ - The Ministry for Foreign Affairs (MAE) took note of the
statements made by the president of the Republic of Moldova, Igor Dodon, during his visit to
Moscow, which it deems inadequate and not corresponding to political realities and the special
relations between Romania and the Republic of Moldova, shows a reply of MAE, requested by
AGERPRES.
"Continuing the modernisation and reform process, as well as fulfilling the aspirations of all
the citizens of the Republic of Moldova requires responsible actions and attitudes," MAE further
specifies, in the requested reply.
"The lasting consolidation of relations with the Republic of Moldova and firm support of the
effort to approach the EU in accordance with the Bilateral Strategic Partnership for European
integration represent a top priority for the future of Romania's foreign policy," further underscores the
Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
The President of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin, gave President Igor Dodon, during
the latter's visit to Moscow a map of "historical" Moldova, the one after the Bucharest Peace of 1812,
that Dodon presented to the Russian media during a pres conference held on Tuesday after the
meeting with the leader of Kremlin, informs TASS and the media in Chisinau.
Dodon told the Russian journalists that "half of the current territory of Romania is
Moldavian."
The map of historical Moldova showed by Dodon was drawn in the 18th century by the
Italian cartographer Bartolomeo Borghi, after the Russian-Turkish war of 1806-1812.
During a press conference, held at the headquarters of the Russian New Agency TASS,
Dodon expressed his regret that in 1812, the Russian Empire did not annex the entire Moldavian
territory but stoped at the Pruth river. 'If the Russian Empire hadn't stopped at the Pruth, we would
have had a whole Moldova now,' he said.
According to Dodon, Chisinau and Bucharest have 'one problem: the attempt to unify the
Republic of Moldova to Romania.' 'When Romania declares at political level that the statehood of the
Republic of Moldova needs to be eliminated, we will fight back,' said Dodon.
'In Romania, the organisations that have tried to make propaganda regarding the fact that part
of Romanian territory belongs to Hungary and another part to Moldova are forbidden. so, why is that
forbidden in your country but not in ours? At the beginning of the year I wrote an open letter to the
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President of Romania (Klaus Iohannis), asking him to explain the position on this issue but I haven't
received any answer,' Igor Dodon declared, according to TASS.
'That is why they (Romania) do not want to sign the agreement regarding borders. They often
say they were the first to recognize the independence of the Republic of Moldova. Why don't you sign
the agreement related to borders, then? We shall insist upon this problem,' underscored in Moscow the
President of the Republic of Moldova. AGERPRES
Draft OUG: Abuse of office only for ove r 200k lei in damages, maximum 3yrs in jail
Bucharest, Jan 18 /Agerpres/ - Abuse of office is to be taken as a crime if only the damages
go over 200,000 lei, while the punishment maximum edge is cut to 3 years in jail, from 7 years now,
according to a draft Emergency Ordinance (OUG) on the modification and completion of the Criminal
Code and the Criminal Procedure Code, on Wednesday put under public scan by the Justice Ministry.
The same article mentions that the criminal action is set in motion upon the complaint of the
damaged person.
Currently, the relevant article of the Criminal Code foresees no bottom limitation of the
damage, and the abuse of office is punished with jail from 2 to 7 years and the deprivation of the right
to occupy a public job.
The OUG draft also envisages the abrogation of the Criminal Code's article stipulating the
negligence of office.
Another proposal targets the modification of the first paragraph of Art. 301, that is to sound
like: "The deed of the public servant who in exercising their prerogatives of service have fulfilled an
act or participated in a decision-making through which directly or indirectly ill-gotten gains were got,
for them, for their spouse, for a relative or a 2nd degree relative included, is punished with 1 to 5
years in jail and the deprivation of the right to occupy a public job."
In its current form, the law includes within the beneficiaries of the public servant's deed the
persons the said individual has had working or commercial relations in the past 5 years, or from which
he benefited or benefits from any gotten gains of any kind.
Other proposals refer to alterations of the Criminal Procedure Code, among which the
limitation to six months of the term a denouncement could be submitted. AGERPRES
President Iohannis: Decision to found Museum of History of Romanian Je ws important accomplishment

Bucharest, Jan 18 /Agerpres/ - President Klaus Iohannis declared on Wednesday that he will
be able to bring up in Strasbourg at the ceremony marking the International Holocaust Remembrance
Day, the decision to found in Bucharest, a Museum of the History of Romanian Jews, an important
accomplishment that he endorsed from the beginning of his mandate.
"On January 24 I will attend, together with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe
and with the President of the Republic of Cyprus, the ceremony marking the International Holocaust
Remembrance Day. I will inaugurate, at the headquarters of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, an
exhibition dedicated to the victims of Holocaust, entitled 'Righteous among people', organised by the
Romanian Presidency of the International Alliance for the Memory of the Holocaust. I especially
rejoice at one thing and I want to share it with you: I will be able to evoke in Strasbourg one important
accomplishment, that I have supported from the beginning of my mandate, and that is the decision to
found, in Bucharest, a Museum of the History of Romanian Jews," affirmed the head of the state
during the ceremony of decoration of the President of The Federation of Jewish Communities in
Romania, at the Cotroceni Presidential Palace.
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President Klaus Iohannis underscored that Aurel Vainer, to whom he granted the National
Order of the Star of Romania in rank of Commander, was one of the most active supporters of this
project and asked him to carry on supporting it.
The International Holocaust Remembrance Day is marked annually on January 27. Marking
this day was decided in November 2015 through a resolution of the General Assembly of the United
Nations Organization. AGERPRES (RO - author: Karina Olteanu, editor: Florin Marin; EN - author:
Simona Iacob, editor: Razvan-Adrian Pandea). AGERPRES
EXCLUSIVE Forme r deputy director of Romanian Intelligence Service makes

statement following retirement
Bucharest, Jan 18 /Agerpres/ - The former first deputy of the Romanian Intelligence Service
(SRI), Lieutenant General (reserve) Florian Coldea, has answered on Wednesday, in a statement
offered exclusively to AGERPRES, to the accusations that were brought against him recently and
offered his clarifications on his activity in the Service and on the internal inquiry that targeted him.
We will offer the unabridged version of the exclusive statement offered by Florian Coldea to
AGERPRES:
"A new start always offers the opportunity to address thanks and to reflect on past steps, even
more so that this year marks 25 years of my activity, of which 22 as officer of the Romanian
Intelligence Service and nearly 12 years as first deputy of the SRI director.
I have served my country and institution in the most devoted way possible and I look back
with pride on all the fulfilled missions, on hundreds of successful operations, on the remarkable
progress, reformation, transformation, modernization and optimization of the institution, to the people
that have guided me professionally and those that I taught there is no greater ideal and more noble
profession than that of an intelligence officer.
I gratefully thank the directors that I collaborated with, all the colleagues, SRI emplo yees,
both officers, NCOs and civilian personnel as well as reserve officers, for their continuous devotion,
for their rigorousness in every moment, for their efforts and sacrifices, for their total professionalism.
Due to them, the Service is today a formidable institution, accepted and respected in the most select
intelligence clubs and by the most exigent partners. Together we have managed, in the past 12 years,
to prevent risks, to combat threats, to keep Romania safe. We have managed to consolidate the
Romanian state, strong and unitary.
I hail with respect the friends and partners of all the institutions of the national security
system for the constructive, permanent, collaboration, for the concrete actions that have contributed to
a better architecture of the Romanian state, to its consolidation and the success of joint operations. We
have managed together to reach ambitious strategic objectives, we have contributed to the fact that
Romania is a safe, stable country with reduced criminality, with no terrorist incidents and which is a
model regarding the anticorruption fight.
I express my gratitude towards our foreign partners, which offered us expertise, knowledge
and support, so that we may successfully fulfill our national security missions. They consistently
helped our institutional efforts, and we, in turn have achieved professional the professional excellence
of protecting national security and promoting strategic interests, becoming, at the same time, security
exporters on the foreign scene, for our allies and partners.
I convey appreciation to the academic environment, for the way in which they contributed to
the development of a domain of intelligence studies in Romania and for the support granted to the
Service to the fulfillment of the security culture consolidation mission.
I appreciate the efforts and sacrifices of all the families of the those who dedicated their
career to our professional objectives.
19
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Sector
1,
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Tel +4 021 207 61 10
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I thank my family for the entire support in these 12 years. I have missed from the most
important childhood moments of my daughter, I spent an insignificant amount of time at home, I have
always delayed my personal plans and objectives. I couldn't have done anything significant in my
career without the unconditional support of my wife, without the comfort and support at home.
It's the moment to respectfully bow in gratitude towards the above mentioned, all the
professional collaborators, those known and those unknown, who have made possible our professional
performance in the past 12 years. In the interest of Romania and its citizens!
In the recent period I was evoked and invoked excessively in the public space. Defamatory
allegations, grave accusations and speculations of the most diverse including my name have invaded
media channels. A massive scandal was intensified affecting both my image and, especially, the
activity of the institution.
According to standard procedure in intelligence institutions, an internal inquiry was started
ever since the start of the first allegations. It's important for the public opinion to mention that the
Service has developed the adequate verification mechanisms, so that nobody in the SRI, no matter the
position or the rank, can place himself above the internal inquiry procedures that appear following
such accusations. Nobody!
A complex, rigorous, complete investigation took place with regard to the accusing
statements broadcast until the moment of this release being remitted. I have gone through all the
stages of this inquiry with full openness. I offered my entire support, I have presented all the
necessary documents and the relevant witnesses, I have answered completely to all questions, I was
subjected to all checks. The results of the inquiry indicated, unequivocally, the fact that I respected the
law and the specific deontological norms, in the analyzed circumstances.
I have returned as first deputy of the SRI director and I am honored to be able to reiterate the
fact that, along my entire career, I was a consistent promoter of the law, of the values that define our
activity: professionalism and good faith. I served my country with dignity and patriotism. The honor
of a serviceman with ideals greater than petty benefits cannot be stained by 'fabricated realities' and
elements taken out of context.
To those who were quick to believe or to amplify flagrant untruths broadcast in the past or
more recently, until January 18, 2017, I reiterate the fact that I understood the stakes, and they are far
greater and profound than compromising my activity. I reserve the right to offer adequate answers and
clarifications, as well as relevant factual elements about these aspects and many others, at some time.
Beyond my name, that the internal inquiry and the truth have rehabilitated, I believe that this
series of attacks and defamatory accusations risks gravely affecting the spirit of the institution and,
implicitly, its good functioning. Out of consideration and respect towards all the past activity, to the
recorded performance, to the consolidated stature of what the SRI is today in the Euro-Atlantic
intelligence community, to the work and effort of my colleagues, I couldn't let this continue.
I requested the Director of the institution to release me from my position as first deputy and to
put me at the disposal of the Service and the needs of the institution.
My retirement does not modify anything in my determination to continue to serve the
Romanian state, to contribute in my future role to preserve all that we have managed to build in the
past 12 years. To my critics, the statements of which I often found constructive, I tell that, without the
constraints of the military status and uniform, I will have, in the future, the freedom to speak, to
publicly express myself, on the basis of the professional expertise I have accumulated and with the
good faith that always guided me. I choose to do this in order to contribute to the development of the
security culture, so necessary for Romania and its citizens in the context of developments in the
security environment, the transformation and multiplication of hybrid threats, of the reality of the
legislative framework and the relevant technological conditions at the level of the entire society.
At the end of my mandate I report to Romanian citizens the fact that it was an honor for me to
serve the country and its security interests from the highest position that a Romanian intelligence
officer can have, it was a privilege to be able to contribute to the fulfillment of the most important
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strategic mission: during my mandate, Romania was a safe, stable country and was successfully
defended from the security risks and threats which it permanently faced. I Serve the Homeland! So
help us God!". AGERPRES
ID: 4795355; Data: 2017-01-18 19:17:21; Redactori: pra/pra
DNA: Changing the legislative frame work as a matte r of urgency, given lack of
objective analyses, is unjustified
Bucharest, Jan 18 /Agerpres/ - The National Anticorruption Directorate (DNA) considers, in
relation to ordinances projects regarding the change of the Criminal Code and the pardoning of some
sentences, that the modification of the legislative framework as a matter of urgency and in the absence
of objective analyses is not justifiable.
"The National Anticorruption Directorate considers that the modification of the legislative
framework as a matter of urgency and in the absence of objective analyses that certify an imperious
social need is unjustified. Criminal legislation must accomplish a balance between the need of the
society to hold responsible people who committed crimes and the fundamental rights of people under
investigation or during the execution of applied penalties, but the proposed modifications would alter
this balance," reads a press release of DNA sent on Wednesday to AGERPRES. AGERPRES
State Secretary Ciamba meets IAEA head Amano in Vienna event

Bucharest, Jan 18 /Agerpres/ - State Secretary with the Foreign Affairs Ministry (MAE),
George Ciamba on Wednesday met in Vienna the Director General of the International Atomic
Energy Agency (IAEA), Yukiya Amano and the Executive Secretary of the Comprehensive NuclearTest-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO), Lassina Zerbo, a MAE release sent to AGERPRES informs.
The two meetings took place at the opening in the Austrian Capital City of the Romanian
Chairmanship of the Forum for Security Co-operation (FSC) within the Organisation for Co-operation
and Security in Europe (OSCE).
The talks targeted significant topics, such as the disarmament, the nuclear non-proliferation or
the Iranian dossier, from the outlook of the new strategic co-ordinates determined by the new US
Administration's priorities, the MAE release specifies.
During talks with the IAEA head, the Romanian secretary of state emphasised the excellent
co-operation between Romania and the agency in the nuclear power's peaceful use, materialised in
several co-operation projects and through the presence of the Romanian experts and diplomats within
the IAEA Secretariat, the source adds.
The two dignitaries have exchanged opinions regarding the international agenda's topics, such
as the implementation of the Joint and Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) among the states
E3+3 and Iran, the developments in the North-Korean dossier and the fight against nuclear terrorism.
In the context, State Secretary George Ciamba voiced appreciation for the essential role of IAEA in
verifying and monitoring the JCPOA's implementation, stressing the political support by Romania to
the agency's effort, materialised through a voluntary money contribution, included.
The IAEA Director General hailed Romania's active, constant involvement as a state with
over 60 years of expertise and responsible experience in the civil nuclear filed in the AIEA effort
regarding the strengthening at global level of the nuclear norms and standards of security, safety and
non-proliferation, the release says.
During his talk with the Executive Secretary of the CTBTO, the Romanian state secretary
reiterated Romania's active and constant support to the efforts of enforcing and enabling of the
CTBTO and of finalisation of the verification regime set by the treaty, by assuming in 2016 the
Preparatory Commission's Chairmanship (PrepCom, CTBTO's decision body), included, the co21
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Romnia
Tel +4 021 207 61 10
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ordination of the preparation process of the range of events dedicated to the 20th anniversary of the
Treaty and the participation in the Eminent Personalities Group, says the MAE.
Ciamba also stressed Romania's interest in identifying new ways to support the CTBTO and
hailed the progress carried out as regards the treaty's enabling, emphasising the special activity by the
Preparatory Commission for the strengthening of the verification regime, the source adds.
Lassina Zerbo thanked Romania for its active involvement in the promotion of the treaty and
its objectives, highlighting the effort by the Romanian Chairmanship of the PrepCom to ease
consensus solutions on the treaty's goals and organisation's priorities.
The two high officials also addressed the recent developments on the North-Korean dossier
and its regional implications.AGERPRES
Protest in Central Bucharest against adoption of draft pardon ordinance

Bucharest, Jan 18 /Agerpres/ - More people are protesting on Wednesday evening in
University Square in Bucharest against the adoption of the draft pardon ordinance.
The protesters, carrying red cards, shouted: "Dragnea, don't forget, Romania is not yours!",
"Corruption kills!", "Colectiv!", "Down with the criminals!", "The Anticorruption Department should
come and get you!", "In jail not governing!".
More protesters had banners with messages such as: "No to amnesty!", "P lease excuse us, we
don't produce as much as you steal", "Depolitic ization in schools and hospitals", "We want a health
system not sins forgiven", "Down with the Mafia Government", "Prison yes, amnesty no", "Hands off
of the Criminal Code", "Wake up Romania, your democracy is dying!".
One of the protesters, Mircea Dinita, declared that he doesn't find it normal for those who did
something wrong or stole to be forgiven through such a law. "Democracy mustn't be taken to an
extreme through measures that are made just for some and are very restrictive and are directed at
some in a way," said Dinita.
In his turn, Ciprian Necula, another protester, expressed his dissatisfaction: "They just want to
cover some criminal activities right now. We are basically back a year ago, the Colectiv episode,
when we went out into the streets and asked for normality. (...) Through what they wanted to do today
they are throwing us back by 20 years."
The leader of Save Romania Union, Nicusor Dan, present in University Square, specified that
he is not making any public statements on the subject so as to not be interpreted that politicians came
in the Square to confiscate a protest of the civil society. AGERPRES
Englis h Service Team, January 18, 2017

Editor-in-chief Razvan-Adrian Pandea (pra)
Editors
Simona Iacob (isc)
Rodica Ionita (rod)
Carolina Novac (kan)
Adina Panaitescu (paa)
Maria Voican (mav)
Secretary
Atena Alexe Timocicu (ate)
AGERPRES
ID: 4795440; Data: 2017-01-18 20:01:54; Redactori: pra/pra
22

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201701-18

Piaa Presei Libere nr. 1,

NEWS OF THE DAY

Attention to our distinguished subscribers

NEWS OF THE DAY, ISSN 1222-8605

Piaa Presei Libere nr. 1,

DNA's Kovesi: Emergency Ordinance regarding decriminalization of abuse of office

NEWS OF THE DAY, ISSN 1222-8605

Piaa Presei Libere nr. 1,

President Iohannis goes to Victoria Palace (sources)

President Iohannis arrives at Victoria Palace

NEWS OF THE DAY, ISSN 1222-8605

Piaa Presei Libere nr. 1,

A2 highway Bucharest-Constanta, A4 highway Ovidiu-Agigea and othe r 12 national

Scheduled events for Wednesday, January 18, 2017

Tennis: Sorana Cirstea qualifies for third round at Australian Open

NEWS OF THE DAY, ISSN 1222-8605

Piaa Presei Libere nr. 1,

NEWS OF THE DAY, ISSN 1222-8605

Piaa Presei Libere nr. 1,

UPDATE/Iohannis at Government: The re are two elephants in the room, pardon

NEWS OF THE DAY, ISSN 1222-8605

Piaa Presei Libere nr. 1,

Government Agent Radu meets EC Deputy Secretary General

NEWS OF THE DAY, ISSN 1222-8605

Piaa Presei Libere nr. 1,

ID: 4794038; Data: 2017-01-18 11:31:32; Redactori: rod/paa

UPDATE/PM Grindeanu: Gov't meeting agenda - budget construction drafts and

NEWS OF THE DAY, ISSN 1222-8605

Piaa Presei Libere nr. 1,

ANOFM: Romania unemployment rate at November-end stands at 4.75 pe rcent

JusMin: MJ completed draft law on pardon for certain offenses

PM Grindeanu: I'll leave for US a little before 13:00 hrs

NEWS OF THE DAY, ISSN 1222-8605

Piaa Presei Libere nr. 1,

NEWS OF THE DAY, ISSN 1222-8605

Piaa Presei Libere nr. 1,

PM Grindeanu: Gove rnment approved "First rent" program

Actor Ion Besoiu has passed away

NEWS OF THE DAY, ISSN 1222-8605

Piaa Presei Libere nr. 1,

M&A market estimated to 3.4-4 billion Euros in 2016;possible mega-transactions in

NEWS OF THE DAY, ISSN 1222-8605

Piaa Presei Libere nr. 1,

GEO draft: Full pardon for sentences up to 5 years of prison

President Iohannis: Romania should further develop its European strategic

NEWS OF THE DAY, ISSN 1222-8605

Piaa Presei Libere nr. 1,

Euro trades at 4.5048 lei

Strong wind cancels as many as 46 trains in southe rn Romania

UPDATE OUG draft: Full pardon for sentences up to 5 years of prison

NEWS OF THE DAY, ISSN 1222-8605

Piaa Presei Libere nr. 1,

NEWS OF THE DAY, ISSN 1222-8605

Piaa Presei Libere nr. 1,

Supreme Court's Tarcea on draft pardon ordinance: Looks to be dedicated

NEWS OF THE DAY, ISSN 1222-8605

Piaa Presei Libere nr. 1,

MAE deems statements of Moldovan President Dodon during visit in Moscow

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Piaa Presei Libere nr. 1,

President Iohannis: Decision to found Museum of History of Romanian Je ws important accomplishment

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