Nicosia, Cyprus. President Nikos Christodoulides said strict adherence to European Union protocols is essential to addressing the threat of foot and mouth disease and signalled his willingness to meet livestock farmers amid rising tensions.
Readiness to meet farmers
Christodoulides said he is willing to meet anyone who requests a meeting, including livestock farmers, and added that without cooperation from all sides there will not be positive results.
Responding to claims that farmers are warning of escalating measures while saying the presidential palace is refusing to meet them, he told journalists he has been in contact with all farmers from the outset and noted that the European Commissioner had visited.
Emphasis on EU protocols and cooperation
The president said Cyprus is in contact with the European Union and stressed that results would have been better if the necessary cooperation had existed to date. He said that as long as there is no cooperation from those concerned, positive results will not be achieved.
He said the priority is to comply with and follow the protocols applied across EU member states to manage the disease risk, adding that the government is there to deal with challenges and problems that arise.
Support measures and recent demonstrations
Christodoulides referred to a government plan to address income losses in the livestock sector, including compensation measures, and said the sector is important and the government is there to support farmers as partners.
On Thursday, demonstrations peaked when farmers effectively closed the Rizoelia roundabout, calling for the president to intervene after an unsuccessful meeting with the agriculture minister.
Enforcement actions
Veterinary services have issued eight fines totalling €45,000 for illegal animal movements linked to the spread of the disease, and six further cases have been referred to police.
What steps do you think would help improve cooperation between authorities and livestock farmers in addressing the disease threat?