Cyprus Cabinet reshuffle announced

…AEKL 4, DIKO 3 & EDEK 2

President Tassos Papadopoulos reshuffled his Cabinet Thursday, the first such move since he took office in March 2003. The ruling coalition parties maintained their share of participation in the Cabinet, with AKEL 4 Ministries, DIKO 3, EDEK 2 and 2 persons who are accepted by all. The composition of the new Council of Ministers, announced by Undersecretary to the President Christodoulos Pashiardes, is as follows:

Minister of Defence: Phivos Klokkaris, the first time a retired military officer assumes the sensitive post. He is one of the two commonly accepted persons. The other commonly accepted person by all parties is Michalis Sarris, who remains at the Ministry of Finance.

Minister of Agriculture, Natural Resources and the Environment, credited to DIKO is Fotis

Fotiou, former CTO Chairman.

Minister of Justice and Public Order, credited to EDEK is Sophoclis Sophocleous.

Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Tourism credited to DIKO is Antonis Michaelides.

Minister of Foreign Affairs, credited to AKEL is George Lillikas who moves from Ministry of Commerce and recently as temporary Government Spokesman.

Minister of Labour and Social Insurance credited to EDEK is Antonis Vassiliou.

Minister of the Interior, credited to AKEL is Andreas Christou.

Minister of Education and Culture, credited to DIKO is Pefkios Georgiades.

Minister of Communications and Works credited to AKEL is Haris Thrasou.

Minister of Health credited to AKEL is Haris Haralambous.

Undersecretary to the President Christoulos Pashiardes has been assigned the duties of Government Spokesman.

The new ministers will assume their duties on Tuesday 13, 2006.