Reshuffle in Greece: little change in Foreign Affairs and Defense

(BRUSSELS2) Prime Minister George Papandreou has reshuffled his government. At the level of external relations some changes. Dimitris Droutsas becomes full-time Minister of Foreign Affairs (and no longer deputy) - Papandreou abandons this function of which he had the double title. While Mariliza Xenoyiannakopoulou (former Minister of Health) becomes Deputy Minister. Spyros Kouvelis remains State Secretary for Foreign Affairs, joined by Dimitris Dollis (who was Papandreou's adviser). On the Defense side, no change, Evangelos Venizelos remains Defense Minister, and Panos Beglitis his deputy. It should be noted that Greece has regained a Ministry of Maritime Affairs entrusted to a deputy from the port of Piraeus, Iannis Diamantidis.

(Nicolas Gros-Verheyde)