Farmers demonstrating in Komotini town square address Athens
The farmers gathered in the town square of Komotini and expressed their problems and tried to make their demands heard in Athens. Farmers from all over the region gathered today (Saturday, 9 September) at 12.00 at the town square of Komotini. The town square was filled with tractors of the farmers participating in the demonstration. It was observed that the farmers did not block any roads during the demonstration.
In today's demonstration of the farmers, the problems caused by the Common Agricultural Policy and the recent increase in production costs were the main issues of the demonstration. In their speeches, the farmers' representatives stated that the central governments take decisions on agriculture without taking farmers into account and demanded a change in this policy.
Sinan Ahmet, President of the Thracian Tobacco Growers Cooperative, Nikos Botrochos, President of the Agricultural Association of the Municipality of Komotini, Kiriakos Krokos, President of the Farmers' Association of the Rhodope Province and Stelios Kehayas, President of the Rhodope Beekeepers' Association made speeches. New Left Party MP Özgür Ferhat, Yassıköy Mayor-elect Caner Imam, who will take over in the new year, and Apostolos Ioannu, Mayor of Maronya - Şapçı, also supported the farmers' action.
In their statements to the minority press, Rodopi MP Özgür Ferhat and Thrace Tobacco Producers Cooperative President Sinan Ahmet stated that they support the farmers' action and that their demands should be fulfilled as soon as possible.
