The planned meeting of the Minister of Rural Development and Food Lefteris Avgenakis for the rehabilitation of the affected areas of the Evros was held in a hall of the airport of Alexandroupoli as the previous broad meeting that took place in Komotini with representatives of farmers, breeders and beekeepers organizations, lasted much longer than the planned, more than 3.5 hours, resulting in last-minute changes to the minister’s schedule, according to a statement by the HYPAAT.

In the same announcement it is pointed out: “In the meeting that took place with fire-affected olive producers and representatives of agricultural cooperatives, including Nikolaos Grigoriadis Director of the Agricultural Cooperative Union of Alexandroupoli, the forest chief of Alexandroupolis Giorgos Pistolas as well as representatives of the Democritus University of Thrace, in the presence of Deputy Minister Stavros Keletsis, of the General Secretary Giorgos Stratakos and the Regional Governor of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace Christodoulos Topsides, discussed issues that concern them and mainly issues related to state aid. Memoranda were filed and there were assurances from the leadership of the HYPAAT that it will continue to be on their side, doing everything possible to restore the affected areas.”

The minister pledged to visit the area again and reiterated that the door of the ministry is always open.

St. Keletsis: What was broadcast about farmers’ protests in Alexandroupolis and the alleged refusal of the leadership of the HYPAAT to meet with them is inaccurate

In clarifications regarding the meeting of the Minister of Rural Development and Food, Lefteris Avgenakis with representatives of olive growers from Makri Alexandroupolis, the deputy minister of the FSA, Stavros Keletsis, also provided clarifications. As also stated in a statement by the HYPAAT, “on the occasion of what was broadcast by some media about farmers’ protests in Alexandroupoli and the alleged refusal of the leadership of the HYPAAT to meet with them, the Deputy Minister of Rural Development and Food and Member of Parliament for Evros Stavros Keletsis said:

“The Minister of Rural Development and Food Lefteris Avgenakis had a scheduled meeting with representatives of farmers, breeders, beekeepers and fishermen today at 3.30 pm in Komotini, at the offices of the Region, in the presence of the Regional Governor Christodoulos Topsides, who was also the organizer of the meeting.

The meeting started on time and the discussion with the institutional representatives of the farmers in the area developed in a perfect atmosphere. However, due to the number of issues raised, the meeting ended at 7:30. The result of this was to postpone the meeting that had been planned with representatives of olive growers from Makri Alexandroupolis. In fact, because the minister wanted to meet the specific delegation, he asked them to meet at the airport, where they met.

The minister did not have an appointment with representatives of any bloc from the Evros region, nor did he refuse to see anyone, as claimed by some media. Both the minister and I did not set anyone up. And what is being said is completely inaccurate.

The leadership of the FSA throughout this time has shown in practice its readiness for dialogue with successive meetings at all levels and throughout Greece.

After all, as the minister himself has stated, he has never refused an appointment with any of the farmers’ representatives and has repeatedly stated that problems can only be solved through dialogue.

Personally, as a deputy minister and also as a Member of Parliament for Evros, I commit a delegation of the protesting farmers to meet with him, whenever they want, to expose the problems that concern them. The door of the ministry of both the minister, as well as the deputy ministers and general secretaries, is always open and farmers are always welcome.

This is the truth, this is the reality.

Every other dimension, which some are trying to give, is aimed at the interests of the farmers and the success of Tuesday’s meeting with the prime minister.”