UN court hears Romania-Ukraine border dispute

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) - The UN's highest court has started hearings on a Black Sea border dispute between Romania and Ukraine.

One hundred billion cubic meters of natural gas and oil reserves are at stake.

Romania will present its case to the International Court of Justice in The Hague from Tuesday. Ukraine will follow next week.

The dispute dates back to 1967 between Romania and the former Soviet Union.

In 1997, both Romania and Ukraine said they would not exploit the reserves in the disputed area.

But the two sides failed to reach an agreement on the Black Sea border. Romania took the case to the court in 2004.

The court will likely take months to reach a decision. The findings of the court are binding.

Romania to take part in EXPO 2010 in Shanghai

BUCHAREST, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- The Romanian government decided at a Wednesday meeting on Wednesday that Romania will take part in the world exposition EXPO 2010 to be held in Shanghai of China.

According to a release, the coordinator of the preparing process was designated the Ministry for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises, Trade, Tourism and Liberal Professions.

The government approved to sign, in Bucharest on Sept. 5, the contract on Romania's participation in this world exposition with the theme of "Better City - Better Life."

The contract stipulates the participating terms, including the space, the way of developing the national theme, the way of carrying out trade activities, the kinds of assistance and the benefits granted to the participants, the release said.