The Government may cut off jobs in the public sector with about 20%... Romania's agricultural output decreasing...

Democrat Liberal and Social Democrat leaders take into account sacking 20% of employees in the public sector, so that salaries in the system may increase without affecting the budget deficit target, sources in the two parties declared for NewsIn.

The only problem so far seems to be the fact that none of the ministers is willing to announced jobs cuts. "In case an agreement is reached, the Finance Ministry will put up the budget draft to be presented in the Parliament", Governmental sources said for NewsIn.


Romania's agriculture sector share in the the GDP constantly decreased in the past years

Agriculture Minister Ilie Sarbu declared in a press conference on Thursday that the Agriculture's contribution to the economy decreased constantly during the past four years, from 12% of the GDP in 2004 to 7% in 2008. At the same time, European funds for Agriculture were not accessed.

In brief, Minister Sarbu stated that:

- We made compensation payments for mountain areas and offered subsidies for agriculture;
- The livestock decreased during the past years. There are less pigs and fowls. The milk production also decreased.
- Romania imports 70% of the pork meat and 35% of the fowl meat interior consumption;
- We have 230 million Euros rendered available for Agriculture and we haven't accessed it, we're not even prepared to access it;
- We put up a team to solve the problems with the irrigation system;
- We failed to attract any funds in the fishery sector.

Former Romanian PM charged with corruption

Prosecutors from the National Anti-Corruption Directorate on Tuesday indicted former Prime Minister Adrian Nastase and five others on corruption charges.

Prosecutors from the National Anti-Corruption Directorate on Tuesday indicted former Prime Minister Adrian Nastase and five others on corruption charges.

They allegedly siphoned state funds -- as much as 1.55 million euros -- to finance Nastase's 2004 presidential campaign.

Previous attempts to prosecute Nastase for corruption failed, as they failed to gain parliament's approval.

This time, prosecutors do not need parliamentary backing, as the allegations stem from a time when Nastase was not a cabinet member

Obama urged to boost priority of BMD development

WASHINGTON -- Newly inaugurated U.S. President Barack Obama has confirmed the wisdom of the allied approach to missile defense. The existing missile defense program involves allied participation in Asia, Europe and the Middle East, and this should continue. Key among the various cooperative efforts are the agreements with the Czech Republic and Poland, both NATO allies, to field a missile defense radar and 10 Ground-based Midcourse Defense interceptors on their territories to counter longer-range missiles, UPI reports.

If Obama wants to send a signal that the United States intends to use missile defense cooperation to reinforce its alliance relationships, he should make it clear that the United States will move to implement these agreements.

What Obama should not do is adopt the position of French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who urged a moratorium on the fielding of missile defenses in Europe. Sarkozy's statement serves to undermine the solidarity of the U.S.-led North Atlantic Treaty Organization in favor of the program that was adopted by NATO leaders at their summit in Bucharest, Romania, in the spring.

Obama also needs to recognize that ballistic missile defense (BMD) has been the least developed component of the forces necessary to protect and defend the United States and its allies around the world.