Newspapers on Tuesday read about Romanian youngsters joining the army for higher salaries and a long-term job. Also in the papers today, foreign investments concentrate in big cities, avoiding other areas across Romania due to lack of infrastructure and work force.

One newspaper reads about 9 million dollars in World Bank funds allocated for infrastructure - all entering the pockets of local officials.

Romania Libera reads about hundreds of young men joining the army for a higher salary, benefits and long-term job safety.

The newspaper reads that in 2007, some 3000 young men who joined the army came from poor counties in the south, south east of Romania. Even if benefits are high, the military life is still hard to adapt to.

Thus, if one fails to adapt to the harsh conditions, he has to pay important sums to cover for everything they received.

However, there is no known profile of young men joining the professional army. Military representatives say that statistics will be drawn starting with 2007, when joining the army has become optional.

The newspaper talks with several young men, who wholeheartedly declare that they joined the army for the lack of money. Moreover, they say they would rather be in the army than leave for Spain or Italy to work illegally in construction sites.

They are aware of the fact that, once in the army, always in the army. However, benefits are high and promising for any young man looking for a safe future.

Adevarulreads that foreign investments avoid Romania’s poorest regions due to the lack of infrastructure and labor force.

Thus, preferred areas for investors are Bucharest and the immediate surroundings for the location of investment sites.

The lack of infrastructure not only hinders any investment in an area but it also dooms the area to scarcity. Most affected areas are the South region and the Northern one where people are considered the poorest in the Union.

More on this issue, World Bank funds totalling 9 million dollars for infrastructure development in North Romania are getting into the pockets of influent businessmen and politicians rather than covering the costs of building roads.

Cotidianul argues that the money, even if used to finance infrastructure developments has nevertheless managed to fill up the pockets of important people in the county of Botosani.

Botosani city mayor Romulus Eram and his wife Gabriela Eram have shares in the same company that won most public tenders in the area. Moreover, various politicians and public dignitaries hold shares in companies that gained a lot from foreign fund-supported projects.