Limassol, Cyprus. President Nikos Christodoulides said on Wednesday that veterinary services had deemed a second round of tests for foot and mouth disease unnecessary and called on all parties to cooperate to combat the outbreak.
Cooperation urged
Speaking at an event in Limassol, Christodoulides denied claims that there was a lack of communication between the veterinary services and the ministry of agriculture. He said he would personally speak with involved stakeholders.
“We need to work in the same direction. If we do not cooperate, we will not address this issue. Within this framework, of course, we are talking and we are ready to talk with everyone,” he said.
He said he was ready to meet anyone who wished to speak with him, including agricultural organisations involved in efforts to face foot and mouth disease.
Meetings with livestock groups
Christodoulides said he was also open to meeting the newly formed association of livestock farmers, The Voice of Livestock Breeders, and that he was available to address the outbreak.
“Something happened to bring FMD to Pachna. It means that there was no cooperation, it means that some people were not following what they were supposed to follow,” he said.
Response to planned protest
Asked about a protest scheduled for Friday outside the presidential palace, Christodoulides said that without cooperation there would be losses for everyone involved.
“Either we all cooperate and follow the necessary protocols, or we won’t be able to meet this challenge. Who will be the loser? We will all be the losers,” he said.
Claims over handling rejected
Christodoulides rejected claims by livestock farmers that the virus had spread because of the veterinary services’ inadequate handling of the situation, saying the virus had been found across the island.
“How are the veterinary services to blame when the virus was found from Larnaca to Pachna? It means something must have been done that was not right, that was not in accordance with the protocols,” he said.
