MOSCOW – Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday called on his newgovernment to work to bring about “change in all areas of life”.

“You must take the initiative … have a modern management style,” Putin toldministers at the first cabinet meeting in the Kremlin since they wereappointed on May 18.

“The engine of change in all areas of life must be found here and the wholecountry has to feel its rhythm,” he said. “Serve as an example ofconstructive cooperation” with civil society, Putin told the gatheringwhich included Prime Minister Dmitri Medvedev.

Putin swept to election victory on March 18 after 18 years in power and hasstuck with his close ally Medvedev.

Key cabinet posts have remained unchanged with veteran Sergei Lavrovholding on to the foreign ministry and Sergei Shoigu defence.

Despite Putin’s call for change his fourth term in the Kremlin had not beenexpected to see of a switch of direction.

Recent years have been particularly turbulent for Moscow’s ties with theWest and seen economic austerity alongside conservative social values.

The most significant move in the new cabinet was the promotion of FinanceMinister Anton Siluanov, who kept the finance portfolio, to first deputyprime minister — the second most important position in government.

Vitaly Mutko — at the heart of institutional doping allegations againstRussian athletes — stayed on as a deputy prime minister but lost his sportsremit. He was put in charge of construction.