The decision not to proceed with the planned livestock farmers’ protest at Rizoelia was announced by the president of the Voice of Livestock Farmers, Neophytos Neophytou, who revealed that it followed lengthy consultations with government officials and the intervention of the President of the Republic.
Speaking on the programme Protoselido, Mr Neophytou said the contacts lasted more than eight hours, with the participation of the Director of the Veterinary Services, Christos Pittis, as well as the Minister of Agriculture. He said the decision to suspend the protest was taken because there appeared to be a willingness on all sides to find solutions to the problems facing the livestock farming sector.
The president of the Voice of Livestock Farmers stressed that, from the first day the organisation was founded, its aim had been “to solve problems, not create others”, noting that livestock farmers are seeking positive results and clarity over the future of animal husbandry, rather than further tension.
As he explained, all the issues concerning the sector were put on the table during yesterday’s discussions, including the culling of animals, compensation, the next day for farming units, when farms will be able to resume operations, as well as issues of fire prevention ahead of the summer. He underlined that the discussions were not held “under threats”, neither from the government nor from the livestock farmers, but with the shared aim of resolving the problem.
Asked whether the government had committed to halting the culling of animals, which was a key demand of the livestock farmers, Mr Neophytou avoided giving a specific answer, saying that “everything is on the table” and that scientists, the Veterinary Services, the Ministry of Agriculture, the government and the livestock farmers themselves are taking part in the discussions.
He made clear, however, that what led to the suspension of today’s protest was the attitude and intentions expressed by the competent authorities and the President of the Republic, noting that there were indications of a willingness to resolve the problems.
Referring to the out-of-court fines imposed over a previous protest at Rizoelia on 23 April, which the livestock farmers consider illegal, Mr Neophytou said the issue is not a priority for the organisation. “Let them issue us a second and third out-of-court fine, as long as the problem of livestock farming is solved,” he said characteristically, adding that the aim is not to punish anyone but to find solutions for the sector.
Although he acknowledged that several livestock farmers reacted strongly to the fines and expressed an intention to take legal action, he said he believed their issuance had been a wrong move, while making clear that he did not wish to engage in further confrontation over the matter.
The president of the Voice of Livestock Farmers also revealed that he was the only representative of livestock farmers to take part in the lengthy contacts with the government. He stressed that he was speaking as someone who was born and worked on a farm, and who personally experienced the process of animals being culled at his own unit.
“Rest assured that for us to change this protest today, there are convergences towards resolving the problem,” he said, expressing his belief that solutions will be found through cooperation.
In closing, Mr Neophytou stressed that livestock farmers themselves are the first who do not want to see their animals suffering inside farms. “We want the health of the animals and of Cyprus’ livestock farming sector,” he said characteristically.
