The Council of Ministers appointed retired Lieutenant General Stylianos Nasis as the new National Guard Chief of Staff. He succeeds Petros Tsalikides who resigned after the deadly explosion at Evangelos Florakis Naval Base on July 11.

Government Spokesman Stephanos Stephanou said that Nasis will be sworn in before President of the Republic Demetris Christofias on July 23 and will then assume his duties.

Nasis had served in Cyprus during the period 1987-1989.