Government Spokesperson Konstantinos Letymbiotis announced the upcoming visit to Cyprus of the European Union Commissioner responsible for Health and Animal Welfare, Oliver Varhelyi, in the framework of the contacts of the President of the Republic with the European Commission regarding the management of the situation with foot-and-mouth disease.
In statements to journalists at the Presidential Palace following a meeting of the Cabinet, Letymbiotis said that, in the context of the President’s contacts with the European Commission on managing the foot-and-mouth disease situation, arrangements have been made for the competent Commissioner for Health and Animal Welfare to visit Cyprus, where, on Friday, 13 March, meetings will be arranged with all affected stakeholders.
He added that on the same day, the President will also hold a new meeting with the affected stakeholders, as was decided during last Sunday’s meeting.
Replying to a question, Letymbiotis said that President Christodoulides has already communicated with the President of the European Commission and that there is ongoing contact both with her office and with the Commission itself, which, he noted, led to the arrangement of the Commissioner’s visit to Cyprus.
“All actions are being taken to address a situation which, I stress, requires responsibility and composure, away from populism, if what we truly want is to genuinely, substantially and practically support the primary sector and those who have been affected,” he said.
He added that “at this moment we need to take all the necessary measures, always in close coordination with our European partners and the Commission, on the basis of the regulations and protocols that must be implemented.”
The Government Spokesperson concluded by saying that “what is paramount is the support of the primary sector and the protection of our country’s export capacity, always through a responsible and realistic approach.”
(Source: CNA)
