LETTERHEADS and government documents bearing the Republic of Cyprus’ official emblem will carry the standardised version following a cabinet decision to revise the State seal.

The Cyprus flag has also been changed as part of the improvement package, a Communication Ministry official said yesterday.

The decision to change both the emblem and flag was prompted by Communication Minister Harris Thrassou who wanted the emblem’s colours coded.

“Up until now the yellow and green on the flag or emblem wasn’t coded. It simply had to be more or less yellow or green. The minister said he wanted specific colours to make all emblems and flags uniform. Something that could say ‘this represents Cyprus and nothing else’,” the official said.

During the discussion to colour-code the Republic’s seals, it was suggested that the actual images of both the emblem and flag be standardised as well.

“Again, like the colours, the images had to be more or less the same resulting in hundreds of different versions being used. In some you couldn’t see the dove clearly, in others there were a lot of olive branches around the shield.”

The new shield depicts a clearer image of the dove holding an olive branch in its mouth. The olive branches underneath were also reduced and made clearer. The same was done for the flag, and the image of the island of Cyprus was also enlarged and the olive leaves brought closer to it.
“They were basically made clearer,” the ministry official said.

The images were devised by graphic designer Philippos De Caston and approved by the cabinet in March.

As of this week the ministry has started informing all printers and government departments about the change, giving them a copy of the approved design.

“I imagine there will be a transitional phase until all the old documents and papers run out but gradually all new papers will carry the new version of the emblem.”

According to the official the ministry is now examining how best to fly the flag.

“At present when the flag is hanging on the mast it simply looks like a white cloth. The ministry wants it to hang in such a way that the actual image shows. We are still examining ways to make this possible and should have a decision in the coming months,” the official said.
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