Mihnea Motoc

Romania's new push for a stronger NATO involvement in Eastern Europe, this time by creating a permanent alliance fleet in the Black Sea in a move aimed to counter Russia's strong involvement in the region, was welcomed by analysts in the country.

A mixture of experts, diplomats and civil society activists are to take seats Romania's proposed new cabinet, whose will run the country until the next elections are held in December 2016, prime minister designate Dacian Ciolos announced on Sunday.

President Klaus Iohannis signed this week several ambassador appointments, giving his seal of approval to journalist and writer Emil Hurezeanu's nomination as Ambassador of Romania to Germany, and to historian, essayist and politician Adrian Cioroianu taking over as Romania's Ambassador and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, the Presidential Administration announced.

Mihnea Motoc is the new Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Ms. Csilla Hegedus is the new Minister of Culture and Deputy Prime Minister, according to the decrees on their appointment signed by President Traian Basescu late on Tuesday, the Presidential Press Office reports.

Prime Minister Victor Ponta announced on the opening of the Government meeting on Tuesday he will nominate Romania's ambassador to the EU Mihnea Motoc as the new minister of foreign affairs.