NEWS OF THE DAY - SEPTEMBER 16

The natural gas imports from Russia will return to normal levels on Thursday, but we cannot know what will happen from Friday, Romanian Minister-delegate for Energy Razvan Nicolescu declared. "I do not rule out that this on-off cut game should continue," he added.

* Mariana Bitang and Octavian Bellu confirmed they have left for good the position of coordinating coaches of Romania's national team of women's artistic gymnastics

* Corina Cretu, nominated for European Commissioner for Regional Policies, will be heard next Monday by the Committees on European Affairs of the Chamber of Deputies and of the Senate.

* The Constitutional Court of Romania admitted a notification from the Ombudsman, and ruled that a law requesting the identification of the users of prepaid mobile phone cards was unconstitutional.

* The Constitutional Court of Romania has ruled that the high professional competence of its judges, which are appointed by presidential decrees, cannot be questioned by other magistrates.

* The Constitutional Court of Romania rejected a challenge of the National Liberal Party to a government ordinance that modified the law on the election of the President.

* The Christian Liberal Alliance (ACL, opposition) filed a request to establish an investigation committee of the Chamber of Deputies on the allegations of President Traian Basescu, who had declared that one of the presidential candidate is an undercover secret agent.

* Chamber of Deputies Chairman Valeriu Zgonea will attend the Parliamentary Intelligence — Security Forum in Washington DC, from Tuesday to Friday, to discuss about regional terrorist threats. AGERPRES