Cabinet changes in Iceland

Mr. Geir H. Haarde today took office as Prime Minister of Iceland at a meeting of the Icelandic State Council. Mr. Haarde takes over from Mr. Halldór Ásgrímsson who announced his decision to step down from his office a few days ago. Concurrently there were some changes in the cabinet at the same meeting, including that the first woman will now serve as the Minister for Foreign Affairs in the history of Iceland. The Government of Iceland now consist of the following:

Prime Minister: Geir H. Haarde

Foreign Minister: Valgerður Sverrisdóttir.

Finance Minister: Árni M. Mathiesen

Minister of Health: Siv Friðleifsdóttir

Minister of Justice and Ecclestical Affairs: Björn Bjarnason

Minister of Industry and Commerce: Jón Sigurðsson

Minister of Education, Culture and R&D: Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir

Minister of Social Affairs: Magnús Stefánsson

Minister of Fisheries: Einar K. Guðfinnsson

Minister of Agriculture: Guðni Ágústsson

MInister of the Environment: Jónína Bjartmarz

Minister of Communication and Transportation: Sturla Böðvarsson

Reykjavík 15. júní 2006