His strong reaction to sloppy and irresponsible positions that cultivate confusion and take advantage of farmers’ anxiety about vaccine against her sheep and goat pox expressed the Minister of Rural Development and Food, Kostas Tsiarasspeaking to ERT. Mr. Tsiaras called on everyone to show self-restraint and responsibility, noting: “We should not turn to populism, nor to what caresses the ears of desperate people. Farmers who have lost or fear losing their animals are in a difficult position, but the solution must be based on science.”
Responding to recent statements by the Regional Governor of Thessaly, Dimitris Kouretathe Minister of Rural Development characteristically underlined: “Until a month ago, the Regional Governor of Thessaly was telling us that the solution to the smallpox problem is the saliva test and he made statements right and left against the vaccine. I don’t understand how vaccination can be recommended when there is no approved vaccine.”
Mr. Tsiaras clarified that “to date there is no approved vaccine in Europe, not even in Greece”, and that “no European country has implemented vaccination against smallpox”. He also stated that “countries that implemented vaccination, such as Turkey and India, are in endemic status, as a result of which they cannot export their products.”
At the same time, he referred to the need to approach the issue in a scientific way and not with arbitrary or frivolous suggestions: “Who is responsible for recommending a vaccination to an animal or to a human being? The Minister, the District Governor or the scientist? The answer is obvious.” In this context, he recalled that a National Scientific Committee against Smallpox has already been established, with top professors from the country’s two Veterinary Schools, which has undertaken to examine the issue “with scientific documentation and analysis”. “Already,” he added, “the two veterinary schools have issued a statement, blatantly against vaccination at this time.”
Mr. Tsiaras noted that “any decision will be taken by a serious scientific team” and that “neither he himself is a veterinarian, nor Mr. Kouretas. The State must listen to science and seriously support the breeders, ensuring the health of the livestock and the credibility of the country vis-a-vis the European institutions”. The Minister underlined that the problem is not a Greek phenomenon, as “there is an extensive spread of smallpox in Bulgaria and Romania”, while at the same time “Germany raised a huge issue for the poultry flu, while in France and Spain there is extensive nodular dermatitis in cattle”.
As far as they are concerned payments from the OKAYthe Minister of Rural Development and Food, stated that “within the next month they will be paid to farmers more than 950 million euros”, pointing out that this is “a large flow of financial resources in total towards the productive world of the country”. As he said, “if you consider that Measure 23 is 178 million, the basic support 550-600 million and that ELGA will give another 170-180 million in compensation, you understand the size of the support”. At the same time, Mr. Tsiaras underlined the importance of the timely submission of Action Plan 2 on November 4, stressing that “with this plan, the “windows” that in the past left room for irregularities are definitively closed. These are three concrete steps that we must take in order to be consistent with the European Commission, but also to effectively support the country’s productive and livestock-raising world”, he added, expressing the belief that “our credibility vis-à-vis the European institutions will be significantly strengthened and payments will now be made with absolute transparency and objectivity”.