“Honest dialogue – and only that – will bring solutions,” emphasized Deputy Minister to the Prime Minister and government spokesperson Pavlos Marinakis in a statement, referring to the farmers’ protests. “From the beginning of the mobilizations by people in the primary sector, the government called them to dialogue. The Prime Minister had even set a specific date,” noted Mr. Marinakis.
He continued by noting that “for the government, the willingness for dialogue is more than sincere. With the framework we have set, moreover, the vast majority of farmers’ and livestock breeders’ demands are satisfied, following what we have implemented in recent years, resolving decades-old demands from the agricultural sector. At the same time, payments are proceeding according to the schedule we had set.”
The government spokesperson emphasized that “now, albeit with delay, more and more representatives of the farmers’ mobilizations appear to understand the need to come to the dialogue table” and estimated that “this is an encouraging development.” “It is crucial that those who still refuse dialogue understand this, setting aside the outdated logic of sterile confrontation, which has severely tested society’s endurance,” stressed Mr. Marinakis and concluded: “Honest dialogue – and only that – will bring solutions.”
Farmers: 18 blockades say “yes” to meeting with government
Representatives of 14 farmers’ blockades and 4 agricultural associations issued a call for coordinated participation in negotiations with the government, as mobilizations escalate across the country. A total of 57 blockades remain active, with farmers expected to decide their next moves after New Year’s.
Specifically, these include 14 blockades and four agricultural associations. They are from Airport, Evzones (Giannitsa, Paeonia – Kilkis), Kerdyllia, Drama Prosotsani, Bralos, Aiginio Pieria, Niselio Imathia, Krya Vrysi Pella, Mikrothiva, Skydra Customs, Meserio Edessa, Chalkidona, Achaia, Ferres and Komotini, as well as the Eastern Aegean islands and Rhodes, with authorization through Chalkidona.
In the announcement issued after their meeting in Epanomi, they emphasize that “the situation prevailing by common admission of an entire Greek society and not only that of farmers demands the immediate resolution of problems of vital importance, as these have been presented today to the government.” The necessity of starting a substantial dialogue with the government for the present and future of Greek agriculture and livestock breeding became apparent, as they note in the announcement.
“Far from expediencies and machinations,” they continue in the announcement, “as these are promoted by the government side, targeting and destroying genuine farmer colleagues without cause, we convey the message away from sterile confrontations to a productive- substantial- and with a view to the good of an entire national economy dialogue.”
“In this struggle, no one is expendable,” they characteristically emphasize, calling on their remaining farmer-colleagues “for joint descent and collaboration at the negotiations table.” The farmers state that they in no way break the common front and clarify that this is an initiative of conditions for starting dialogue.
