Athens, the Foreign affairs to a woman, Bakoyannis will be minister

ATHENS – Greek Prime Minister Costas Karamanlis announced a government reshuffle with the appointment as Foreign Minister of Dora Bakoyannis, the current mayor of Athens. It is the first time in Greece that a woman becomes foreign minister. At the head of Defense, Karamanlis appointed Evangelos Meimarakis, general secretary of the ruling party (New Democracy). The Minister of Economy and Finance, Giorgio Alogoskoufis, retains the office. Dora Bakoyannis, 51, daughter of former conservative prime minister Costas Mitsotakis, was mayor of Athens during the Olympic games in August 2004. Popular and independent, she was open about thorny issues such as Turkey and Cyprus.

February 15 2006