The president says non-compliance is prolonging the outbreak, while reaffirming readiness to meet farmers and pledging state support.
President Nikos Christodoulides on Tuesday reiterated his willingness to meet livestock farmers over the ongoing foot-and-mouth disease issue, while stressing that strict adherence to protocols remains critical to containing the outbreak.
Speaking as he arrived at the General Assembly of the Employers and Industrialists Federation, the president confirmed that no meeting with protesting farmers has yet been arranged, but made clear he is open to dialogue.
“I am ready to meet anyone who requests it,” he said.
Protocol compliance at the centre
He emphasised that failure by some to follow established protocols is a key factor behind the persistence of the problem.
“The reason we still face these issues is because some do not comply with the protocols. As long as behaviours continue that fall outside the frameworks applied in all countries, this problem will continue to affect us all,” he said.
The president added that he has been personally engaged with the issue from the outset and announced that an internal meeting on foot-and-mouth disease will take place later on Tuesday.
He also underlined the government’s support for affected farmers, pointing to the state’s fiscal capacity to respond to the challenges arising from the outbreak.
“From the beginning, we have said that the government stands by livestock farmers so that we can jointly address these challenges. Our responsible fiscal policy allows us to respond to the problems caused by foot-and-mouth disease,” he said.
Christodoulides concluded by calling for cooperation, noting that authorities remain in constant contact with organised groups at all levels to manage the situation collectively.
Source: CNA