Cyprus News Agency: News in English, 06-06-08

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From: The Cyprus News Agency at <http://www.cyna.org.cy>

CONTENTS

[01] PAPADOPOULOS - RESHUFFLE

[02] PASHIARDIS RESHUFFLE

[03] AHI PRESSER

[01] PAPADOPOULOS - RESHUFFLE

The composition of the new Council of Ministers, announced by Undersecretary to the President Christodoulos Pashiardes, is as follows:

Minister of Defence: Phivos Klokkaris

Minister of Agriculture, Natural Resources and the Environment: Fotis Fotiou

Minister of Justice and Public Order: Sophoclis Sophocleous

Minister of Commerce, Industry, and Tourism: Antonis Michaelides

Minister of Foreign Affairs: George Lillikas

Minister of Labour and Social Insurance: Antonis Vassiliou

Minister of the Interior: Andreas Christou

Minister of Finance: Michalis Sarris

Minister of Education and Culture: Pefkios Georgiades

Minister of Communications and Works: Haris Thrasou

Minister of Health: 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, June 13, 2006.

[02] PASHIARDIS RESHUFFLE

Pashiardis, who will also be carrying out Government Spokesman duties, said the new Cabinet members will be giving their official assurances to the President on June 13 and will then assume their duties at their respective Ministries.

Replying to questions, Pashiardis said both the Ministers who have remained in the Cabinet and those who will be leaving had been informed early enough by the President of the Republic.

Asked how President Papadopoulos selected the persons who would make up the Cabinet, Pashiardis said ``the basic criterion for the President of the Republic is efficiency and ethos, which are fundamental preconditions for the promotion and achievement of the government`s mission.``

Replying to questions about his appointment as Government Spokesman and asked if this would be a permanent arrangement, Pashiardis said that ``until further notice, if and when there is a further announcement, I will be exercising simultaneously and in parallel the duties of the Undersecretary to the President and those of the Government Spokesman.``

[03] AHI PRESSER

During a press conference here Thursday on the results of AHIs annual visit to Cyprus and the institutes activities, Nicholas Karambelas, AHI`s Legal Advisor said that the bill has been initiated by AHI and endorsed by Congressman Frank Pallone from the State of New Jersey. The bill already has 32 co-sponsors, adding that he expects AHI to table the bill before the US Senate next week.

According to Karambellas, the proposed bill will enable US citizens who own property in occupied Cyprus to sue in American Federal courts for back - rent for their property.

``It will also direct the Secretary of State to open the government to government claim Act with the government of Turkey, just like the US government has done in connection with Vietnam, Iraq and wherever American property has been taken,`` he said, adding that the bill ``will amend our (US) foreign sovereign immunity Act, which means that Turkey is immune by law suits by US citizens in US courts at the moment and will amend it to allow suits directly against Turkey in American courts.

He also added that American citizens will also be able to sue any private entity which is occupying their property in the occupied north of Cyprus.

AHI`s President Gene Rossides, said that AHI`s aim is to strengthen US relations with Cyprus.

``Our aim is to support the proper reunification of Cyprus, to get rid of Turkish occupation troops and Turkish settlers and to allow the return of refugees to their homes,`` Rossides said.

Regarding the US positions on Cyprus, Rossides said that ``unfortunately we have not been able to move the executive branch that much``, adding that AHI can ``win, I think any vote that comes up to the House of Representatives floor and I think we can come pretty close to that now on the Senate floor``.

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