NEWS OF THE DAY - AUGUST 25

*Prime Minister Victor Ponta announced on Monday that Defence Minister Mircea Dusa and Foreign Minister Titus Corlatean will attend NATO Summit to be held in Wales on Sept. 4 and 5.
Ponta underscored that Romania's objectives at the gathering were set with all the state institutions and they target NATO military presence in Romania.

*Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta on Monday announced he will visit the Republic of Moldova, Turkey and China in the period ahead and will attend the United Nations General Assembly at the end of September.

*Prime Minister Victor Ponta said on Monday that Romania's position as regards the situation in Ukraine is of full and unconditional support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of this state.

"Romania's position is decided by all institutions ..., namely of full and unconditional support for the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine. Moreover, Romania has supported via its foreign affairs minister all decisions regarding the economic sanctions against the Russian Federation. Romania considers that immediately ceasing support for separatists in eastern Ukraine, support extended by the Russian Federation, is the ultimate and short-term objective," Ponta told a joint press conference with Foreign Minister Titus Corlatean and Defence Minister Mircea Dusa.

*The Senate Budget & Finance Committee rejected today the request referred to Parliament by President Traian Basescu for the revision of the bill reducing the social security contribution payable by employers by five percentage points.

The Senate called in an extraordinary session meets on Monday afternoon in a plenary sitting to consider the revision request sent to Parliament by the head of the state...