For yesterday’s, serious incidents between farmers and police officers in Livadia yesterday and the tension in the Administration, where the local development plan was to be presented, today the Minister of Rural Development and Food, Costas Tsiaras spoke to ERT.

As he revealed, despite his intention to meet and talk to the representatives of the Boeotian farmers, the latter did not accept his invitation before the scheduled event

The minister stressed that he had sought the dialogue several hours before the official meeting, but the agricultural associations then refused the meeting to eventually accept it after the incident recorded by the cameras.

“I had been informed that there was possibly tension on the part of the agricultural associations,” Mr Tsiaras said, adding that he asked through the regional governor and the local Vice -Mayor to have a meeting with the farmers of the farmers, with the representatives of the agricultural associations.

“I don’t hide it,” the minister continued, “that, until late Monday night, until 11:00, I was expecting a positive response from their own side. However, there was no positive response. Representatives of the agricultural bodies who were invited to this event had not been excluded to know what the reality is. “

A short time later, there was re -communication and eventually the meeting he had initially proposed. “They asked me to make the meeting and we had a discussion with almost 20 farmers’ representatives, which lasted more than 2.5 hours. During this meeting, all the issues that concern them were analyzed, “the minister said. He also added that at the end of the debate “at least the understanding of their own part was left for what we are currently trying to do at the Ministry of Rural Development and with OPEKEPE, so that there is no problem in the flow of European resources”.

In closing, Mr. Tsiaras sent clear message of responsibility and coldness: “If one believes that problems are solved with tensions or events, they obviously have interest in the media, possibly public opinion, but the problems are not solved. I personally do not adopt this view. The problems are solved with dialogue. I believe we have to sit at the same table, each on his own to quote the issues that concern him, but also have the corresponding, serious and responsible demands. “

FOR OPECEPE, allowances, payments and smallpox

At the same time, Mr Tsiaras made it clear that the major is not to risk European resources. “The Greek primary sector is dependent on European resources. It is a difficult time for the Greek primary sector. We have no right to put in any risk of European resources. These delays affect honest people, this is perfectly understandable. This is the big problem, “he said.

“Real checks must be incorporated before each paymentchecks that did not exist before, are a process that has complexity. Today, we have no opportunity to make payments, unless checks are made, this is the reason for the delay, “the minister said, referring to the delays of payments by farmers and stressed:” There is a race to close this cycle as soon as possible. Checks have already begun to be incorporated into the process, these checks also have findings to be announced. Our intention is to make payments as soon as possible. “

In terms of blessingmade it clear that our goal is to avoid Lockdown. “The responsibility is not only the measures the ministry chooses, there are a number of factors that everyone needs to adapt and operate through the process are the regions and farmers. I appeal, we must make every effort to limit and uproot the disease. Obviously, it is a matter of eradication, on the other hand, the prolonged period of zoonos in Greece will cause export problems. “

Concerning compensation, Mr Tsiaras stressed that the country is giving us the largest amount than other European countries. “We have chosen the high compensation to help people live until they replaced their animals. Nowhere in Europe is there any compensation unless security measures are respected, “he concluded.

Referring to the issue of OPEKEPE, the minister noted: “The fact that, at the moment, to the Inquiry Committee and through the discussion of other issues, other witnesses may need to be called.

It shows whether the position of the New Democracy’s government faction was right to lead to the Inquiry Committee, so that all the data, all the persons who can testify or testify, find themselves before the Inquiry Committee, because then there will only be a complete picture and then we will know what has happened today.

We have to go to OPEKEPE in a time of transparency and justice. To reveal the truth and to show the events through their true dimension. “