2023-09-20 17:35:23
in agro / by admin / on September 20, 2023 at 18:35 /
On press conference after signing the memorandum from the managers and representatives of the Initiative Committee, created for the farmers’ protest, Academician Nikolay Denkov apologized for calling the farmers terrorists.
This apology was highly anticipated, along with the promises of power enshrined in the Memorandum.
Here is what the participants in the press conference said:
Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov: Everything we have done is a small step, but in the right direction
The memorandum takes effect literally from today. What is important, I want to emphasize very clearly. Everything that we included in the memorandum, in addition to corresponding to a large part of the expectations and demands of the protesters, corresponds one hundred percent to the priorities and main tasks of our government. All the funds that were allocated are funds that go to the farmers. What we’ve been looking at is how to speed up the processes so they can get them sooner so they can get them in full. In other words, there is no retreat. There is only speeding up, ordering and better organization of work so that they can work more calmly.
Regarding the specific actions for Ukraine, everything we have signed corresponds to the agreement between Ukraine and the European Commission. There is a regime in which a platform is first created and in this platform, through licenses, exports from Ukraine to the member states and especially to the five countries are controlled and regulated.
Everything we have done is a small step, but in the right direction, consistent with the goals and priorities of the government.
I also take the opportunity at this moment, when the protest is over and when the memorandum is signed, to apologize to all the people who work in the agricultural sector – the agrarian sector, the livestock breeders – for unintentionally offending them by using the word “terrorist”. (Applause) She wasn’t targeting them. It was directed at the people who refused to come to the invitation I had extended, where we would begin to discuss these very points in the same spirit in which we have done it today.
Therefore, today we also said a few words to each other, we congratulated each other that we have finished the stage where we could not talk to each other directly, but through the media, and from now on we are in the stage where we work together.
Some of the points in the memorandum will be made by decisions of the Council of Ministers, as was the decision today on the allocation of 63 million BGN. It had to be fulfilled this year anyway. It was budgeted and delivered.
There are other actions that depend on the minister.
There are third actions that I personally undertake to present to the EC. There is no one-size-fits-all solution.
Let me point out that this is the first realization of what I announced, that from now on our government will sign documents in such cases and everyone will be able to monitor whether we fulfill them. If this thing had been done in the last 10 years, we would be in a completely different situation.
Agriculture Minister Kiril Vatev: We will continue to work together
I thank those who participated in the negotiations yesterday and today, for the extremely constructive dialogue, for the constructive proposals made by the representatives of the agricultural producers. I sincerely hope that from now on we will continue to work together to create this environment that will lead to better opportunities to have more Bulgarian products, because we all work for the most important people – these are the consumers and the Bulgarian citizens .
Iliya Prodanov, chairman of the National Academy of Sciences: It was a tense few days, but there is a result
I want to thank the Prime Minister Academician Denkov, the Minister of Agriculture, the Minister of Finance. These two days were extremely intense, extremely stressful for everyone, but in the end, a result was achieved. It is clear that not everything can be fully achieved, but it is important to reach a consensus that satisfies everyone. I hope that all the measures we have taken in all branches will bear fruit in the long term.
Simeon Karakolev, co-chairman of NOKA: The Ministry has started preparing measures
We have a new point to rally around today. It is that the state, in the person of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food, begins to prepare a complex of measures, a kind of policies, which should be in a long-term aspect. I hope that their implementation will lead to a slightly better future for our farmersand.
Tsvetan Filev, chairman of NAT: We are going home
A very important fundamental document was signed today between the farming community and the government, for which we are grateful. From now on, we go back to our native places and start doing what we do best – farming.
Dimitar Zorov, chairman of NSGB: There are no winners and losers
Dear journalists, we should not look for sensationalism, today there are no defeated and no winners. Some rational balance has been found today to give the industry a breath of calm and hopefully ‘swim’ through to next year, so we have to have respect for these people who are standing here – and from the Initiative Committee and the people who came out and those who work in the fields and on the farms and to those in charge for what has been achieved today.
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