President Christodoulides addresses foot and mouth disease concerns

On Monday, April 27, 2026, President Nikos Christodoulides addressed rising tensions regarding a foot and mouth disease outbreak in Cyprus. While livestock farmers have warned of escalating protest measures and claimed the administration has refused to meet them, the President denied these allegations. Christodoulides stated he has been in contact with organized farming groups since the onset of the crisis and expressed a willingness to meet with any concerned parties. He emphasized that priority must be given to adhering to European Union protocols to mitigate the risks. The President noted that government cooperation with the EU, including visits from the European Commissioner, is ongoing. He claimed that results in managing the disease could have been better if there had been greater cooperation from all sides. Additionally, the government has announced a plan to compensate farmers for income losses, identifying them as partners in the process.