ISRAEL ON FOOT AND MOUTH IN CYPRUS - POLITICAL RAMIFICATIONS WITH SERIOUS RISK IN HALLOUMI PRODUCTION - Filenews 14/4
The outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Cyprus does not only threaten livestock farming, but is developing into a crisis with clear political ramifications and a serious risk to the dairy sector and halloumi production, writes the Israeli newspaper "Maariv" in an extensive report.
According to the publication, the virus crosses the Green Line with ease, which makes any attempt to deal with it that is not uniformly applied throughout the island practically insufficient. The different approach of the two sides, the newspaper notes, leads to a deadlock and intensifies concern in the agricultural world.
At the heart of the dispute is the strategy of containing the disease, emphasizes "Maariv", explaining that the Republic of Cyprus, as a member state of the European Union, is obliged to implement a strict regulatory framework, which provides for the killing of entire herds even in the event of a single infected animal being detected. On the contrary, the Turkish Cypriot "authorities", it is reported, have chosen mass vaccinations without killing, a choice that Nicosia considers irresponsible and dangerous as it leaves active outbreaks of infection.
The newspaper hosts statements by the general secretary of the Union of Cypriot Farmers, Panikos Hambas, who emphasizes that "Cyprus is a single entity. The environment, the sun and the air cannot be divided", adding that "we are one yard and the same rules must apply to everyone".
Similar is the position of the president of the Pan-Agricultural Union, Christos Papapetrou, who states that Greek Cypriot livestock breeders are outraged because they are forced to kill healthy animals, while, as he claims, the virus is still circulating in the occupied territories. "Once Cyprus is cleared, the virus will still exist and we will get infected again from the occupied territories," he warns.
"Maariv" also reports that the Turkish Cypriot side rejects the accusations and argues that the Republic of Cyprus puts politics above the necessary professional cooperation.
At the same time, he points out that the European Union does not appear willing to relax the framework of mass killings, with the competent commissioner Oliver Várhely stating that "the killing of exposed herds is the only solution. We cannot allow the whole island to be contaminated."
