Livestock farmers staged a protest outside the Presidential Palace in Nicosia on Saturday morning, calling for an immediate end to the mass culling of animals.
Chanting “Criminals, we demand an immediate stop to the mass slaughter of animals,” the demonstrators said they intend to deliver a memorandum to a representative of the Presidency.
Farmers from across Cyprus - including areas such as Geri, Kofinou and Limassol - gathered outside the Presidential Palace, carrying a black coffin which, they said, symbolises daily losses. The protest was preceded by a gathering at the GSP Stadium in the capital.
The demonstrators also voiced concerns over what they described as insufficient information from the Veterinary Services and accused the Minister of Agriculture of misleading statements, calling for procedures to follow European protocols.
They further complained about arrests of farmers who have resisted sampling procedures, saying they are demanding official written confirmation that their animals are infected with Foot-and-mouth disease before any culling takes place.
Farmers arrived at the Presidential Palace in their own vehicles under a strong police presence. During the protest, the avenue outside the Presidential Palace was closed, from the roundabout to the nearby traffic lights.
Authorities warn of virus spread
In response, the Veterinary Services said the mobilisation of farmers, due to the gathering itself, significantly increases the spread of foot-and-mouth disease.
In a statement, they stressed that veterinarians and farmers are not opponents but allies working towards the same goal.
They reiterated that inspections are not random, but aimed at identifying possible movements of animals linked to confirmed cases, in order to protect herds and contain the disease.
The authorities also assured that veterinarians are able to distinguish between antibodies resulting from vaccination and those caused by actual infection.