Russia reminds NATO that the Alliance needs the Russian support more than ever, while president Basescu suggests Georgia to adopt a cautious position and negotiate with Moscow. Meanwhile, Romanians live better and better everyday, at least on paper.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov declared on Thursday that NATO needs Russia more than Russia needs NATO, mainly in Afghanistan, "where the future of the Alliance is at stake", Gandul notes.

Meanwhile, the visit Romania president Traian Basescu paid to Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili was concluded with a bitter smile: although it is difficult to understand how Georgia and Russia read the cease-fire agreement differently, but Georgia should negotiate the situation with Russia. In a larger view, President Basescu brought aid to Georgia, worth some 1.2 million euro, and insists on the continuation of energy projects such as Nabucco. Basescu also insisted on the fact that Romania supports MAP approval for Georgia and Ukraine, Evenimentul Zilei reads.

The negotiation between Georgia and Moscow, suggested by Basescu, also mages it to the front page in Gandul, which adds a few lines about Basescu's appeal for moderation addressed to all Black Sea leaders.

Back home, the news that Democrat-Liberals will nominate Theodor Stolojan for prime minister after the future elections also made it to most front pages, but only in Cotidianul there is a different approach. According to several major politicians in the party, the nomination of Stolojan is nothing but false news spread by his right-hand, deputy Raluca Turcan.

Meanwhile, the economy Ministry keeps informing Romanians about how well they live and how life, in fact, improves everyday. Romania saw an 8.9% economic growth in the second quarter, with the budget deficit decreasing from 1.12 to 0.64%. The tax colle